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Finding brain stimulation targets for low motivation

Researchers study where to aim magnetic brain stimulation to address apathy, or reduced motivation, in people with Parkinson’s.

Testing a treatment or activity · Study reference: NCT06087926

Plain-language introduction written with AI from the registry; not independently checked by a clinician. Read the original details below ↓

Open the official registry record ↗

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Looking for volunteers

Start (reported actual date)
2024-05-01
Main measurements finished (planned)
2027-06-30
Study finished (planned)
2027-06-30

Planned dates can move. A study finishing does not tell us when a paper will be published.

No results summary has been confirmed in the registry records we imported. See connected papers below; we keep checking after recruitment ends.

Changes we have recorded
  • 2026-10-11 — recruiting

These are dates we observed a change, not necessarily the dates it happened.

Papers connected to this study

No connected paper has been found yet. The tracker checks the growing library for study identifiers and registry-linked publications.

Who can join?

Ages 55 years to 80 years · Does not accept healthy volunteers

These are starting points, not the full rules. The research team can tell you whether the study is right for your situation.

Read all the rules for taking part

Sex eligibility reported by registry: all

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson Disease. * At least 4 years of symptoms. * On dopaminergic medication for Parkinson Disease. * Stable on dopaminergic medication and other medications which may influence apathy (such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, stimulant medications) for at least 4 weeks prior to first study visit and remain stable throughout the study period. * Hospital's study-specific informed consent must be obtained. * Must have capacity to provide informed consent in English. * For female participants, confirmation that they have not had a menstrual period in over 12 months, or that they will use an effective form of contraception during the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to provide informed consent. * Inability to perform effort task (determined during the titration session). * Presence of dementia (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \< 21). * History of epilepsy or brain surgery. * Severe tremor or dyskinesia that would interfere with EEG (determined by the PI). * Patients with clinically significant medical or neurological conditions which may be an alternative cause of parkinsonism such as repeated brain injury, anti-dopaminergic medications, anoxic brain injury, or significant basal ganglia strokes. * Presence of other known central nervous system disease that may interfere with performance or interpretation of EEG or TMS. * Presence of any implanted metal devices including, but not limited to, pacemakers, deep brain stimulators, vagal nerve stimulators, bladder stimulators, or cochlear implants. * Presence of medical contraindications to TMS such as implanted stimulators, history of mania or bipolar disorder, history of epilepsy.
Full study name & original research details

Official study title

Investigation of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Apathy

Short title used by the registry

Apathy in Parkinson Disease TMS Study

Original description

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop non-invasive brain stimulation targets for the treatment of apathy, or motivation problems, in Parkinson Disease. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. Does transcranial magnetic stimulation change effort task performance in Parkinson's Disease patients? 2. Is there a link between brain signals and apathy? Participants will * complete questionnaires and assessments * perform an effort task * have their brain activity recorded (EEG) * receive non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS) Researchers will compare two stimulation locations (experimental site and control site) to see if TMS of the experimental site has an effect on apathy. Participants will receive stimulation of both sites (during separate visits).

Further description from the registry

Participants will be asked to come for 3 study visits. During visit 1, after being informed about the study and potential risks, all patients giving written informed consent will undergo a brief cognitive assessment, a movement examination, and answer questionnaires. Additionally, the individual motor threshold will be determined for each participant. Visit 1 will take 2-3 hours. Visits 2 and 3 will involve: * completing questionnaires, * performing a task where fictitious rewards can be earned by squeezing a dynamometer, * recording brain activity with an electroencephalogram (EEG), and * receiving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Visits 2 and 3 will take approximately 3 hours each and will be separated from each other by at least 3 weeks.

Conditions reported: Parkinson Disease

Registry records for this study

Records are joined using registration identifiers. Titles alone do not establish that two studies are the same.

Study type
Interventional
Interventions
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Phases
NA
Sponsor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Start date reported by registry
2024-05-01 (actual)

Registry updated: 2026-07-08 · Status last verified by the registry submitter: 2026-05

Registry records retrieved 2026-10-11 (UTC). Individual records may have older updates. Recruitment and eligibility must be confirmed with the study team.

Contact the research team

Public study contacts supplied to the registry. Ask whether recruitment is still open and what participation involves.

Cole Shumate · 919-445-0979 · shumatec@neurology.unc.edu

Miriam Sklerov, MD · 984-974-4401 · miri@email.unc.edu

Study locations

Site status can differ from overall study status. “Status not reported” means local availability needs confirmation. Remote participation and travel arrangements must be checked with the team.

UNC-Chapel Hill, Cassidy Lab

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Recruiting

Cole Shumate, BA · 919-445-0979 · shumatec@neurology.unc.edu

Miriam Sklerov, MD

Facility not reported

United States

Status not reported

The original descriptions and participation rules come from the registry. Participation is voluntary and does not guarantee benefit.