Plain-English translation of NCT05482126 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Parkinson Disease research guide →Researchers are trying to understand how a part of the brain called the basal ganglia helps filter out sensory information that isn't important for what you're doing right now — and how this filtering process breaks down in Parkinson's disease. If you're already scheduled for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery as part of your regular care, this study asks you to participate in a simple sensory task while researchers record brain activity through temporary electrodes placed during surgery. The goal is to better understand the brain mechanisms behind Parkinson's disease movement problems.
Deep brain stimulation is an effective treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease, but we don't fully understand exactly how the brain areas involved in movement normally work or what goes wrong. By studying brain activity during routine DBS surgery, researchers hope to uncover the underlying causes of movement difficulties and improve future treatments.
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If you are a Parkinson's patient already scheduled for DBS surgery, you would participate by performing a short sensory task while researchers record brain signals during your surgery — this involves responding to visual, touch, or other sensory signals. Researchers will attach small stickers and sensors to your skin to measure muscle activity and movement, and may use a scalp device to measure overall brain activity. Healthy volunteers in the control group would complete similar sensory tasks and testing without having surgery. All participants should expect follow-up visits to track how their brain activity changes with treatment.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 13, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States
Sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Collaborators
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Enrollment target
~30 participants
Started
June 2022
Primary completion
August 2026
This trial's estimated completion date has passed — the record may not be fully up to date.
Age range
18 Years – 89 Years
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in January 2026.
Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.
Central contact
Zachary Irwin, PhD
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.