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Neurofeedback for Tourette Syndrome in Adolescents

This study is testing a treatment called neurofeedback for adolescents aged 10-16 with Tourette Syndrome or chronic tic disorder. You would receive real-time neurofeedback from either the supplementary motor area (SMA), a part of the brain involved in movement planning, or from a control region. The goal is to see if learning to control activity in the SMA can reduce Tourette's symptoms. Researchers will measure changes in your symptoms after the treatment and then again at 2 weeks and 1 month later. The study is currently unclear about its recruitment status and plans to enroll 64 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study where 64 participants will be randomly assigned to receive neurofeedback from either the supplementary motor area or a control region.
What's involved
You would participate in three fMRI neurofeedback sessions, with six neurofeedback scans per session. During these scans, you would be cued to increase or decrease brain activity while receiving feedback.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your symptoms will be checked at 4 days, 2 weeks, and 1 month after the neurofeedback intervention.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05558566

Neurofeedback From the Supplementary Motor Area for Tourette Syndrome

Recruiting
NAAges 10–16InterventionalTreatment
Yale University
~64 participants
Updated 2026-06-09 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Neurofeedback from the SMANeurofeedback from control region

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 symptoms after the intervention compared to baseline
Measured over Baseline, 4 days post-NF, 2 weeks post-NF, and 1 month post-NF

Conditions

Tourette Syndrome in Adolescence

Explore related trials

Chronic Tic DisorderTourette Syndrome

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Connecticut1

Study leadership

  • Michelle Hampson, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Yale University

Who to contact

Cheyenne Harris-Starling
[email protected]
203-737-6055
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Boys and girls, 10 to 16 years of age
A current diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome (TS) or chronic tic disorder (CTD), with active tics that can be executed without head movement, and a YGTSS score of at least 13 (for TS participants) or at least 12 (for CTD participants)
Currently stable medication treatment and no planned changes in medication for the duration of the study.
Family residence within 2 hours of Yale Medical Center with ability and willingness to attend assessment and fMRI visits.
Children and their parents are expected to be able to speak and understand spoken English in order to participate in a clinical assessment of TS and related psychopathology.
Subjects will be free of: 1) metal medical implants or braces, 2) pregnancy, and will have 3) a body weight of less than 250 lbs. and 4) no claustrophobia.

Exclusion

Intelligence quotient below 80
Current diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, bipolar or psychotic disorder or current suicidality
Significant medical condition such as heart disease, hypertension, liver or renal failure, pulmonary disease, seizure disorder
Recently initiated psychotherapy. Participation in the study will not be allowed within 8 weeks of the initiation of psychotherapy. Ongoing, concurrent psychotherapy (that was initiated at least 8 weeks previously) for the child will be allowed, but parents will be asked not to initiate any new psychotherapy for the child during the study
Subjects may also be excluded after the first MR scan if we are unable to localize the two regions in their brain that are used as targets for the active and control neurofeedback conditions.

What this trial measures

  • Change in symptoms after the intervention compared to baselineBaseline, 4 days post-NF, 2 weeks post-NF, and 1 month post-NF

    Symptom severity is assessed using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) before NF and at several time points in the month following the completion of NF training.