Sensorimotor integration in primary cervical dystonia

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Sensorimotor integration in primary cervical dystonia - its relevance for the sensory trick

• IRAS ID

  161754

• Contact name

  Kailash P. Bhatia

• Contact email

  k.bhatia@ucl.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Joint Research Office, UCL

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 5 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  The selective activation of brain areas is thoroughly regulated by inhibitory and excitatory nerve circuitries. In spasmodic torticolis (also known as primary cervical dystonia, abbreviation: CD) the inhibitory circuitries are disrupted, thus resulting in an increased excitability of numerous brain structures, particularly in the sensory and motor system.
  The so-called sensory geste/trick (SG) refers to a simple movement or manoeuvre (like touching or cheek or chin) or a sensory stimulus (e.g. wearing a hat) that is sufficient enough to improve or even relieve symptoms. Due to its great beneficial impact on the patients’ symptoms, a better understanding of the SG is necessary for the development of future treatment approaches. Although the SG is a useful clinical sign to study the interplay between the sensory and motor system in this condition, less is known about its underlying neuronal circuitries behind. Hence, the aim of this study is to assess the integration of sensory inputs in the motor system in patients who suffer from CD. The scientific questions will be approached by using different neurophysiological techniques. For our study we will recruit 15 CD patients with a SG, 15 CD patients without a SG and 15 healthy controls. Exclusion criteria are the presence of any other neurological conditions that could interfere with an accurate test performance. All participants will undergo a comprehensive neurophysiological assessment of the motor and sensory system. The test findings from patients with a SG will then be compared to those obtained from patients without a SG and with healthy controls. Participants will be scheduled for one visit at the UCL Institute of Neurology. The whole assessment will be done in the same session and will require up to 3 hours to be completed.

• REC name

  London - City & East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/LO/0973

• Date of REC Opinion

  21 Jul 2015

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion