NCT07443891

Brain Network Changes After Vibro-tactile Stimulation in Laryngeal Dystonia

Functional Neural Network Changes After Vibro-tactile Stimulation in Laryngeal Dystonia

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Minnesota · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Laryngeal dystonia (LD) is a focal dystonia affecting laryngeal muscles, causing involuntary spasms that impair speech production. Recent research demonstrated that non-invasive vibrotactile stimulation (VTS) of the laryngeal area can provide acute symptom relief in up to 57% of patients, with improvements in voice quality and reductions in perceived speech effort lasting from minutes to several days. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this therapeutic effect and the factors determining individual treatment response remain incompletely understood. The objective is to evaluate the acute effects of VTS on voice and speech parameters in participants with LD while characterizing associated changes in brain resting-state networks using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Detailed description

To identify the brain networks involved in laryngeal dystonia and any associated changes to this network due to vibro-tactile stimulation (VTS), participants will receive VTS in a controlled laboratory setting for about 20 minutes. They will receive two MRI brain scans, one prior and one after the application of VTS. The scans will take place at the University of Minnesota Center for Magnetic Resonance Research. The total time of the testing procedure that includes receiving VTS and both MRI scans will be approximately 4 hours. This study requires participants to travel Minneapolis.

Conditions

• Laryngeal Dystonia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Vibrotactile Stimulation (VTS)	Applied to the laryngeal area using a non-invasive vibrating device.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-14
• Primary completion: 2027-02-28
• Completion: 2027-02-28
• First posted: 2026-03-02
• Last updated: 2026-03-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study