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Non-invasive BCI-controlled Assistive Devices Study

This study is exploring new ways to help people with motor disorders, including those with spinal cord injuries, muscular diseases, or motor neuron disease, as well as healthy individuals. It tests three different interventions: NMES Feedback, Visual Feedback, and TESS (Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Stimulation). These interventions use brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to decode brain signals (sensorimotor rhythms or SMRs) to potentially control assistive devices and improve movement. Researchers will measure how well the BCI delivers commands and changes in brain activity (SMR Modulation). You may be able to join if you are between 18 and 80 years old and have good general health or motor deficits from conditions like stroke or spinal cord injury. The study aims to enroll 100 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 100 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
Participants will have electroencephalography (EEG) signals recorded while performing cued tasks. TESS will be applied for 20 minutes at a specific frequency.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Researchers will measure outcomes immediately after each intervention session and up to one week after all sessions.

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NCT05183152

Non-invasive BCI-controlled Assistive Devices

Recruiting
NAAges 18–80InterventionalBasic science
University of Texas at Austin
~100 participants
Updated 2026-05-01 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:NMES FeedbackVisual FeedbackTESS

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in the BCI command delivery performance
Measured over immediately after each intervention session and up to one week after all sessions
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Motor Disorders
Healthy
Spinal Cord Injuries
Muscular Diseases
Motor Neuron Disease
Stroke
Traumatic Brain Injury
Movement Disorders
Multiple Sclerosis

Explore related trials

HealthyMotor DisordersMotor Neuron DiseaseMultiple SclerosisMyopathySpinal Cord InjuryStrokeTraumatic Encephalopathy

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Texas1

Study leadership

  • Jose del R. Millan, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · The University of Texas at Austin

Who to contact

Jose del R. Millan, PhD
[email protected]
512-232-8111
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

good general health
normal or corrected vision
no history of neurological/psychiatric disease
ability to read and understand English (Research Personnel do not speak Spanish) 2. Subjects with motor disabilities
motor deficits due to: unilateral and bilateral stroke / spinal cord injury / motor neuron diseases (i.e. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spino-cerebellar ataxia, multiple sclerosis) / muscular diseases (i.e. myopathy) / traumatic or neurological pain / movement disorders (i.e. cerebral palsy) / orthopedic / traumatic brain injury / brain tumors
normal or corrected vision
ability to read and understand English
ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion

short attentional spans or cognitive deficits that prevent the subject from concentrating during the whole experimental session
heavy medication affecting the central nervous system (including vigilance)
concomitant serious illness (e.g., metabolic disorders) 2. All participants
factors hindering EEG/EMG acquisition and the delivery of non-invasive electrical stimulation (e.g., skin infection, wounds, dermatitis, metal implants under electrodes)
criteria identified in safety guidelines for MRI and TMS, in particular metallic implants

What this trial measures

  • Change in the BCI command delivery performanceimmediately after each intervention session and up to one week after all sessions

    The command delivery accuracy reflects the level of control of the subject when using the BCI. It measures the percentage of trials in which the subject-specific classifier that is used to differentiate the different imagined movements could accumulate enough evidence to support the presence of EEG patterns specifically associated with the imagined movement in those trials. The score is 0-100, and the higher the value, the better the outcome.

  • Change in the focality and Strength of SMR Modulationimmediately after each intervention session and up to one week after all sessions

    The focality of sensorimotor rhythm modulation is assessed from EEG using event-related desynchorinzation (ERD) and synchronization (ERS) over the motor area. Continuous measure, the higher the better