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PET Scan to Study Brain Control of Human Movement
This study has been completed.
Sponsored by: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Information provided by: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001324
  Purpose

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a technique used to investigate activity in areas of the brain. The PET technique allows researchers to study the normal processes in the brain (central nervous system) of normal individuals and patients with neurologic illnesses without physical / structural damage to the brain.

When a region of the brain is active, it uses more fuel in the form of oxygen and sugar (glucose). As the brain uses more fuel it produces more waste products, carbon dioxide and water. Blood carries fuel to the brain and waste products away from the brain. As brain activity increases, blood flow to and from the area of activity also increases. This is known as regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Knowing these facts, researchers can use radioactive water (H215O) and PET scans to observe what areas of the brain are receiving more blood flow.

In this study researchers plan to investigate the changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) as patients participate in different activities. The activities are designed to stimulate the areas of the brain responsible for voluntary motor activity and sensation. By comparing the results of PET scans performed in different conditions, researchers can locate regions of the brain responsible for specific tasks.

This study should provide new information about voluntary movements in humans and the preparation involved in controlling them.


Condition
Ataxia
Cerebrovascular Accident
Healthy
Movement Disorder
Tremor@@

Genetics Home Reference related topics: familial paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia Friedreich ataxia Parkinson disease
MedlinePlus related topics: Movement Disorders Nuclear Scans Tremor
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: CNS Control of Human Movement: H215O PET Studies

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Estimated Enrollment: 510
Study Start Date: March 1992
Estimated Study Completion Date: July 2001
Detailed Description:

The main purpose of the studies presented in this protocol is to investigate the physiology of motor control in health as well as the pathophysiological modifications taking place during disease. To this end, we will investigate changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) as an index of regional neuronal activity, associated with various motor and sensory tasks using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The rCBF will be obtained by measuring the distribution of the cerebral radioactivity during emission scans following the intravenous bolus injection of 15O-labeled water. The very short half-life of 15O (2 minutes) allows us to measure rCBF repeatedly under different task conditions (see methodology and experimental procedures). With the comparison between PET scans performed in different conditions, we can detect the specific task-related activated regions. PET images will be coregistered to high resolution Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) to get more accurate anatomical information regarding the activated areas. The results will be correlated with that from other physiological approaches including Electroencephalography (EEG), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). These studies should provide new information not only about the executive component of the voluntary movements in humans but also the different organizational aspects of the preparatory processes that control them.

  Eligibility

Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Patients with movement disorder and normal volunteers.

  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00001324

Locations
United States, Maryland
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Sponsors and Collaborators
  More Information

Publications:
Study ID Numbers: 920119, 92-N-0119
Study First Received: November 3, 1999
Last Updated: March 3, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001324  
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
Ataxia
Brain
Motor Learning
Parkinson's Disease
Physiology
Positron Emission Tomography
Stroke
Tremor
Voluntary and Involuntary Movement Physiology
Movement Disorders
Normal Volunteer

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Cerebral Infarction
Stroke
Vascular Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Healthy
Ischemia
Brain Diseases
Dyskinesias
Tremor
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Signs and Symptoms
Parkinson Disease
Movement Disorders
Ataxia
Neurologic Manifestations
Brain Ischemia
Brain Infarction
Infarction

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Nervous System Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 15, 2009