NCT07455760 · Boston University Charles River Campus
Investigating Subcortical Contributions to Speech Sequencing in Deep Brain Stimulator Recipients
What this study is about
This study will examine how two important brain circuits - one involving the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and one involving the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) - contribute to learning and producing speech sequences. Participants will include two groups: 1. individuals with Parkinson's disease who have deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices targeting the STN and 2.
View original scientific description
This study will examine how two important brain circuits - one involving the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and one involving the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) - contribute to learning and producing speech sequences. Participants will include two groups: 1. individuals with Parkinson's disease who have deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices targeting the STN and 2. individuals with essential tremor who have DBS devices targeting the VIM. Participants will complete speech tasks involving the learning and repetition of novel sound sequences. During some parts of the study, DBS stimulation will be temporarily turned on or off in a controlled research setting. This will allow researchers to examine how stimulation affects both the learning of new speech sequences and the production of previously learned sequences. All STN participants and most VIM participants will also be equipped with a cutting-edge DBS system, the Percept PC, which will enable the recording of deep brain activity during the tasks. The results of this study will improve our understanding of how different brain circuits support speech learning and production. In particular, this study will help to differentiate the roles of the STN and VIM in learning the ordering of speech sounds within a syllable from learning of speech sequences containing multiple syllables. This knowledge may help guide future approaches to optimizing DBS settings to improve both movement and speech outcomes in individuals with neurological disorders, as well as provide greater general insight into how these brain structures contribute to speech production and learning.
Interventions
BEHAVIORAL
Phoneme sequence learning
Approximately half of subjects enrolled in the study will participate in this intervention. Subjects will read aloud monosyllabic sequences that are presented orthographically on a screen. Each sequence is formed by a non-native consonant cluster followed by a vowel and final consonant (CCVC). Speech trials will be grouped into blocks. After a Familiarization block, subjects will produce a set of twelve CCVCs in a Pretest block. Subjects will then repeatedly produce two of those CCVCs in one Training block, and two other CCVCs in a subsequent Training block. Following training, subjects will produce all four trained CCVCs and four additional novel CCVCs in each of two Test blocks. Washout blocks, during which no speech task trials are completed, will follow the Pretest, Training, and first Test block to allow subjects to rest and to complete standardized testing.
OTHER
Cessation and re-enabling of stimulation of the STN
20 adults with Parkinson's disease (PD) who have deep brain stimulator (DBS) implants in the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Stimulation of the STN will be intermittently turned off while subjects complete speech sequence learning tasks. After no more than 35 minutes, stimulation will be re-enabled with normal clinical parameters for each participant.
OTHER
Cessation and re-enabling of stimulation of the VIM thalamic nucleus
20 adults with essential tremor who have deep brain stimulator (DBS) implants in the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) of the thalamus will participate in this intervention. Stimulation of the VIM will be intermittently turned off (DBS OFF state) while subjects complete speech sequence learning tasks. After no more than 35 minutes, stimulation will be re-enabled with normal clinical parameters for each participant.
BEHAVIORAL
Multisyllabic sequence learning
Approximately half of subjects enrolled in the study will participate in this intervention. Subjects will read aloud sequences that are presented orthographically on a screen. Speech trials will be grouped into blocks. After a Familiarization block, subjects will produce 2- and 7-syllable sequences in an Assessment block to determine the appropriate length sequence for the remainder of the intervention. Subjects will produce a set of eight sequences in a Pretest block. Subjects will then repeatedly produce two of those sequences in one Training block and two other sequences in a subsequent Training block. Following training, subjects will produce all four trained sequences and two additional novel sequences in each of two Test blocks. Washout blocks, during which no speech task trials are completed, will follow the Pretest, Training, and first Test Block to allow subjects to rest and to complete standardized testing.
Primary outcome measures
Change in speech sequencing accuracy
Time frame: Day 1
Investigators will evaluate recordings of speech productions to identify errors. This will be used to compare sequence accuracy before and after practice of novel sequences with DBS in the ON and OFF states.
Speech production duration
Time frame: Day 1
Investigators will inspect recordings of speech productions to identify production duration. This will be used to test hypotheses regarding differences in sequence duration before and after practice of novel sequences and with DBS in the ON and OFF states.
Beta power during speech production
Time frame: Day 1
Investigators will extract beta band (12-20 Hz) power from neural recordings taken while subjects practice and rehearse novel speech sequences. This will be used to test hypotheses regarding differences in beta power before and after practice of novel sequences and with DBS in the ON and OFF states.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Native speakers of American English
- Adults at least 18 years of age
- A clinically established diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or essential tremor
- Able to provide informed consent in the judgment of the investigator
- Treated with deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (Parkinson's disease) or ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (essential tremor)
- Stable Parkinson's disease or essential tremor medication regimen for at least one month
- Stable DBS program settings for at least one month
- Nominal DBS system function, including normal impedances at therapeutic DBS contacts, and adequate battery life or adequate IPG charging status for therapy
- For DBS sensing, implanted with Medtronic Percept PC or Percept RC implantable pulse generator
- Corrected vision adequate to easily read text presented during speech motor task
Exclusion criteria
- Cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; Nesreddine et al., 2005) score \< 25) or active psychotic or behavioral symptoms that would, in the judgment of the investigator, preclude proper participation in the study
- Hearing impairment that interferes with accurate perception of the speech motor learning stimulus (25dB hearing level threshold at 500, 1k, 2k, and 4kHz frequencies)
- Language impairment (aphasia) or speech articulation impairment (dysarthria) that precludes performance of the speech motor learning task
- Neurological disorder that interferes with speech motor learning
- Inability to tolerate symptoms when DBS is off
- Orthodontia or atypical oral structure (e.g., cleft palate) that interferes with speech
- For participants in the sub-syllabic sequence learning study (Study C.2.1), experience with the following languages: Hebrew, Polish, Lithuanian, Romanian, Georgian, Tepehua, Hungarian, and Pima
Where
- Boston, Massachusetts
Collaborators
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), Massachusetts General Hospital
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
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Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
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Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Mar 9, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations