Cerebral Activity Related to Primary Motor Stereotypies in Children: An EEG Study.
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Neurology |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 7 - 18 |
| Updated: | 4/6/2019 |
| Start Date: | December 2, 2009 |
| End Date: | June 29, 2012 |
Cerebral Activity Related to Primary Motor Stereotypies in Children: An EEG Study
Background:
- Motor stereotypies are a movement disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive, and
rhythmic movements. These movements have a predictable pattern and seem purposeful, but
they serve no obvious function, tend to be prolonged, and can be suppressed. Common
examples of motor stereotypies include hand waving, head nodding, and body rocking.
- Researchers are interested in learning more about motor stereotypies. Many children with
autism and other developmental disorders tend to exhibit these behaviors, but normal
healthy children and even some adults have demonstrated motor stereotypies under certain
conditions (including boredom and stress). More research is needed to determine the
internal causes of and potential successful treatments for these behaviors.
Objectives:
- To use electroencephalography (EEG) to study cerebral activity related to stereotypies in
children.
Eligibility:
- Children between 7 and 18 years of age who demonstrate stereotypy movements on a consistent
basis (at least 10 times a day for at least 4 months).
Design:
- The study will require two visits to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.
- First visit: Outpatient screening visit to determine the child s eligibility for the
study, including questionnaires for parents/guardians and a medical assessment of the
stereotypies.
- Second visit: Participating children will spend 1 day in a room at the NIH Clinical
Center Pediatric Day Hospital. During the visit, participants will wear a portable EEG
unit to measure brain activity. For the first hour of the visit, researchers will
perform movement tests to study the brain activity related to normal movements. For the
rest of the day, participants may play games, watch television or movies, read, or nap,
while continuing to wear the EEG to monitor brain activity related to the stereotypic
movements.
- Participants will receive a small amount of compensation for their time and
participation.
- Motor stereotypies are a movement disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive, and
rhythmic movements. These movements have a predictable pattern and seem purposeful, but
they serve no obvious function, tend to be prolonged, and can be suppressed. Common
examples of motor stereotypies include hand waving, head nodding, and body rocking.
- Researchers are interested in learning more about motor stereotypies. Many children with
autism and other developmental disorders tend to exhibit these behaviors, but normal
healthy children and even some adults have demonstrated motor stereotypies under certain
conditions (including boredom and stress). More research is needed to determine the
internal causes of and potential successful treatments for these behaviors.
Objectives:
- To use electroencephalography (EEG) to study cerebral activity related to stereotypies in
children.
Eligibility:
- Children between 7 and 18 years of age who demonstrate stereotypy movements on a consistent
basis (at least 10 times a day for at least 4 months).
Design:
- The study will require two visits to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.
- First visit: Outpatient screening visit to determine the child s eligibility for the
study, including questionnaires for parents/guardians and a medical assessment of the
stereotypies.
- Second visit: Participating children will spend 1 day in a room at the NIH Clinical
Center Pediatric Day Hospital. During the visit, participants will wear a portable EEG
unit to measure brain activity. For the first hour of the visit, researchers will
perform movement tests to study the brain activity related to normal movements. For the
rest of the day, participants may play games, watch television or movies, read, or nap,
while continuing to wear the EEG to monitor brain activity related to the stereotypic
movements.
- Participants will receive a small amount of compensation for their time and
participation.
Objective
Motor stereotypy is a common movement disorder observed in children and adolescents but whose
pathophysiology is unknown. Therefore, our overall objective is to study cerebral activity
related to stereotypies. First, we want to define whether motor stereotypies are preceded by
a cortical potential, as it is observed before voluntary movements. We hypothesize that no
pre-movement potentials will precede the stereotypies. However, if a pre-movement potential
is observed, our secondary objective is to compare this potential to cortical potentials that
precede voluntary movements. We also aim to study cortical potentials preceding voluntary
movements in healthy children and to compare them with the potentials observed in children
with stereotypies.
Study population
12 children presenting with primary motor stereotypies and 12 healthy children.
Design
Using 19 scalp electrodes, we will record the patients electroencephalographic (EEG) activity
for up to 8 hours during one day. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the muscles
involved in the stereotypies will be recorded with surface EMG electrodes. Healthy children
will undergo an EEG for 2 hours. During this EEG recording, they will be asked to perform
arms movements.
Outcome measures
Primary outcomes: latency and amplitude of both evoked and induced activity (cortical
potentials) related to motor stereotypies will be measured.
Secondary outcomes: latency and amplitude of evoked and induced activity related to voluntary
movements will be measured.
Motor stereotypy is a common movement disorder observed in children and adolescents but whose
pathophysiology is unknown. Therefore, our overall objective is to study cerebral activity
related to stereotypies. First, we want to define whether motor stereotypies are preceded by
a cortical potential, as it is observed before voluntary movements. We hypothesize that no
pre-movement potentials will precede the stereotypies. However, if a pre-movement potential
is observed, our secondary objective is to compare this potential to cortical potentials that
precede voluntary movements. We also aim to study cortical potentials preceding voluntary
movements in healthy children and to compare them with the potentials observed in children
with stereotypies.
Study population
12 children presenting with primary motor stereotypies and 12 healthy children.
Design
Using 19 scalp electrodes, we will record the patients electroencephalographic (EEG) activity
for up to 8 hours during one day. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the muscles
involved in the stereotypies will be recorded with surface EMG electrodes. Healthy children
will undergo an EEG for 2 hours. During this EEG recording, they will be asked to perform
arms movements.
Outcome measures
Primary outcomes: latency and amplitude of both evoked and induced activity (cortical
potentials) related to motor stereotypies will be measured.
Secondary outcomes: latency and amplitude of evoked and induced activity related to voluntary
movements will be measured.
- Population
12 children presenting with primary motor stereotypies will be recruited as well as 12
healthy children.
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Patients:
Children will be eligible to participate if they meet the following criteria:
- Are 7 through 18 years old;
- Are identified as having complex-motor stereotypies with predominant movements
consisting of repetitive arm flapping, hand waving, or finger wiggling movements (only
children presenting with these movements will be included);
- Predominant stereotypic movements must have started before six years of age;
- Predominant stereotypic movements must have been present for at least four months and
occur at least 10 times a day;
- Dr Harvey Singer must have witnessed movements either in person or via videotape.
- The use of medication that does not affect the central nervous system will be allowed
during the study.
- Subjects with the diagnosis of ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, conduct disorder,
or learning disability can be included.
Healthy volunteers:
Children will be eligible to participate if they meet the following criteria:
- Are 7 through 18 years old;
- Are able to give informed assent.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Patients:
Subjects will be excluded from this study if there is:
- Diagnosis of autism, autistic spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, Pervasive
Developmental Disorder NOS, or mental retardation (IQ < 70);
- Concurrent significant medical, neurological, or psychiatric condition;
Use of tranquilizers, psychotropic drugs or medications which could modulate the cortical
activity, or if subjects have taken these medications during the month prior to their
screening visit. As a consequence, children under stimulant medications for ADHD will be
excluded from the study.
Healthy volunteers:
- Abnormal neurological exam, current or past history of neurological disease or
psychiatric disease. Patients with neurological diseases of the central nervous system
that impair the motor system or cognitive function will be excluded;
- Use of tranquilizers, psychotropic drugs or medications which could modulate the
cortical activity, or if subjects have taken these medications during the month prior
to their screening visit.
We found this trial at
1
site
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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