Cerebellar Metaplasticity in the Swallowing Motor System (V1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cerebellar Metaplasticity in the Swallowing Motor System
IRAS ID
341596
Contact name
Ayodele Sasegbon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Swallowing problems are common and can lead to increased hospital admissions and even death. Current treatments for swallowing problems involve altering the consistency of food and fluids. However, these treatments are not supported by high-quality evidence. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a way of changing the activity within specific regions of the brain. When it is used to stimulate the swallowing areas of the brain, it can improve swallowing function.
This technique has been shown to improve swallowing function in people who have had strokes.
Unfortunately, not everyone experiences the benefits of this technique with some showing more recovery than others. This is a problem as it reduces the effectiveness of rTMS. A technique called metaplasticity, where the brain is stimulated twice instead of just once has been shown to improve the effectiveness of rTMS. We aim to use the technique of metaplasticity over the cerebellum (the area of the brain at the back of the head) to improve rTMS response rates.
We will recruit healthy participants and stimulate their cerebellums using rTMS to see if metaplasticity is more effective than standard rTMS.REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0518
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jul 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion