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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico | OTHER |
| I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia | OTHER |
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Cortical-basal ganglia gamma oscillations are pathologically reduced in Parkinson's disease (PD) and the plasticity of the primary motor cortex (M1) is impaired. Enhancing gamma oscillations through transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), a non-invasive neurophysiological tool that modulates cortical rhythms, can restore this alteration. However, whether tACS-related normalization of M1 plasticity results in positive clinical effects is unknown. Motor learning is also impaired in PD and gamma oscillations play a relevant role in different forms of learning in humans. Nevertheless, whether motor learning abnormalities relate to reduced gamma oscillations in PD is another unclear issue. It can be hypothesized that gamma oscillations impairment in M1 contributes to altered motor control, plasticity and learning in PD. Accordingly, in this project, the authors intend to test whether gamma-tACS on M1 in PD patients ameliorates motor performance and learning, as objectively assessed with kinematic techniques.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation | Experimental |
| |
| sham transcranial alternating current stimulation | Sham Comparator |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) | Device | Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) will be delivered using a BrainSTIM (EMS, Italy) connected to two electrodes (5x5cm) enclosed in sponges soaked with saline solution. One electrode will be centred over the first dorsal interosseus (FDI) hotspot and the other over P3. tACS will be delivered at peak-to-peak amplitude of 1 milliampere (mA), and with 3-seconds ramp-up and down periods. The stimulation frequency will be 70 Hz, as representative of the endogenous motor network-related gamma frequency. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in bradykinesia features as objectively assessed by kinematic techniques | The velocity of finger tapping movements will be kinematically measured and expressed in degrees/second. | post 5, 15 and 30 minutes |
| Changes in motor learning performance as objectively assessed by kinematic techniques | The acceleration peak of finger index abductions will me kinematically measured and expressed as millimeters/seconds | post 5, 15 and 30 minutes |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giulia Paparella | Contact | 3384780752 | giulia.paparella@uniroma1.it |
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRCCS Neuromed | Recruiting | Pozzilli | Italy |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42115691 | Derived | Paparella G, Costa D, De Riggi M, Angelini L, Birreci D, Pietracupa S, Cannavacciuolo A, Guerra A, Bologna M. Driving motor cortex oscillations restores plasticity and improves bradykinesia features in Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2026 May 12. doi: 10.1038/s41531-026-01373-0. Online ahead of print. |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D010300 | Parkinson Disease |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D020734 | Parkinsonian Disorders |
| D001480 | Basal Ganglia Diseases |
| D001927 | Brain Diseases |
| D002493 | Central Nervous System Diseases |
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| sham transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) | Device | Sham-tACS will consist of ramp-up and down periods and only 1-second stimulation at 1 mA amplitude. |
|
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D009069 | Movement Disorders |
| D000080874 | Synucleinopathies |
| D019636 | Neurodegenerative Diseases |