Deep Brain Stimulation for Speech and Arm Function After Stroke

This study is looking at whether Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the Motor Thalamus can help improve speech and arm/hand movement for people who have had a stroke. Participants will have a surgical procedure to place small wires (electrodes) in their brain, which will be connected to external stimulators. Researchers will then test how these stimulators affect your arm, hand, and speech. The goal is to see if this treatment can help restore these functions. You may be able to join if you are 18-75 years old, had a single stroke more than 6 months ago that caused speech difficulties (dysarthria), and speak English. The study aims to see if this treatment can reduce problems like adverse events, discomfort, and pain.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 10 participants. It is designed to assess the immediate and long-lasting effects of Deep Brain Stimulation.
What's involved
You will undergo a surgical procedure to implant electrodes, which will be connected to external stimulators. Experiments will be performed to test movements and speech, and the implant will be removed after less than 30 days.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Adverse events will be measured at 29 days. Discomfort and pain will be measured at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 months.

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

NCT06303869

Deep Brain Stimulation Motor Ventral Thalamus (VOP/VIM) for Restoration of Speech and Upper-limb Function in People With Subcortical Stroke

Recruiting
NAAges 18–75InterventionalBasic science
Jorge Gonzalez-Martinez
~10 participants
Updated 2026-05-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the Motor Thalamus

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Adverse Events
Measured over 29 days
+1 more outcome measured
Stroke
Brain Disease
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases

NCT06303869

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Pittsburgh

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Jorge Gonzalez-Martinez, MD/PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pittsburgh

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

  • Adverse Events29 days

    The investigators will quantify the safety of DBS to treat post-stroke speech and upper-limb motor deficits. For this, the investigators will record all adverse events for the entire study duration. The study is considered successful if no serious adverse events related to the use of deep brain stimulation are reported.

  • Discomfort and PainBaseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 months.

    The investigators will assess the relative level of discomfort and/or pain that is associated with the delivery of electrical stimulation to the motor thalamus. After each stimulation train patients will be asked to report a level of perceived discomfort using a 10 value subjective scale. Low values will be assigned to low discomfort and high values to high discomfort. The study is considered successful if 70% of recruited subjects do not report discomfort or pain at stimulation amplitudes that are required to obtain motor responses in the face and upper-limb muscles.