Visuomotor SkillsSYNCNCT07249801
Closed-loop rTMS-EEG During Visuomotor Integration.
A study testing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in people with Visuomotor Skills and Brain Lesion (General), run by Medical University of South Carolina at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This pilot study aims at establishing personalized state-based rTMS for precision neurorehabilitation, we designed a within-subject cross-over study to test closed-loop repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (rTMS-EEG) comparing the targeting of two key nodes in the frontoparietal… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Visuomotor Skills, Brain Lesion (General)
- What is being tested?
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2025to 28 Feb 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- adult volunteers (age ≥18 years)
- right-hand dominance (defined with the Edinburg Handedness Scale)
- voluntary whole-hand grip force (Medical Research Council scale for muscle force ≥2)
- capable of repeated grasp and release with 5% of maximum voluntary contraction (standardized with an in-house computer-based assessment involving whole-hand grip force tracking upon visual cues with a digital dynamometer).
Who cannot join
- presence of any MRI risk factors (such as an electrically, magnetically, mechanically activated metal or nonmetal implant including cardiac pacemaker, intracerebral vascular clips, any other electrically sensitive support system, or claustrophobia)
- presence of any contraindications to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, rTMS (e.g., history of seizures or epileptic activity, currently taking medications that lower seizure thresholds)
- any neurological or psychiatric disorders affecting cognitive function (e.g., established dementia) affecting the ability to understand the purpose of the study and give informed consent or ability to complete cognitive testing
- substance use disorder
- visual impairment that precludes completion of scanner tasks
- uncontrolled hypertension despite treatment
Show all 11Show fewer
- intake of tricyclic anti-depressants
- musculoskeletal disorders affecting bimanual grasp- and release
- pregnancy (or suspected/possible pregnancy or plan to become pregnant in the short term). If the participant is a woman of childbearing potential, a urine pregnancy test will be performed on a standard basis.
- severe aphasia affecting particularly of receptive nature (NIH Stroke Scale, NIHSS Language subsection ≥2) affecting the ability to understand the purpose of the study and give informed consent
- pregnancy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, 29425
About this study
Official title: State-dependent Entrainment of Intrinsic Brain Rhythms to Improve Interregional Functional Coupling.
This pilot study aims at establishing personalized state-based rTMS for precision neurorehabilitation, we designed a within-subject cross-over study to test closed-loop repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (rTMS-EEG) comparing the targeting of two key nodes in the frontoparietal network during bimanual visuomotor force tracking in persons with upper extremity sensorimotor impairment affecting eye-hand control.
Read the detailed description
There is a need for oscillatory or repetitive neuromodulatory tools and methods that are effective in entraining intrinsic neural rhythms to improve inefficient functional coupling within neural circuits. The goal of the proposed study is to develop a closed-loop application of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) suitable for use in multidomain precision neural-circuit based rehabilitation studies that permits the time-locked application of rTMS pulses to the phase of the intrinsic neural oscillation (personalized state-based application) in a defined behavioral context (e.g., goal-directed eye-hand control).
- Conditions
- Visuomotor Skills, Brain Lesion (General)
- Being tested
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- Keywords
- visuomotor processing, electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), eye-hand control
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)Device
Also called non-invasive brain stimulation
rTMS will be applied time-locked to the intrinsic brain rhythms to individually-defined brain regions
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| state-dependent repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) | Experimental | Repetitive TMS will be applied to cortical targets based on task-based (visuomotor) brain activation. Receives: Device: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change of whole hand grip force precision
Force time series will be used to extract two measures for each trial to describe distinct features of visuomotor force adjustment: 1) Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) to characterize the deviation of the actual force from the target force, i.e., over- and undershoot and 2) sample entropy (SmpEn) to quantify the randomness or uncertainty of the sampled force time series. From these measures, the trial-based relative changes in RMSE and SmpEn from baseline (before intervention) will be computed.
Measured: 90 minutes
Change of functional brain connectivity.
Trial-specific phase-based connectivity will be extracted from the electroencephalography (EEG) time series and computed relative to baseline (before intervention).
Measured: 90 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Nov 2025
- Study start1 Nov 2025
- Primary completion28 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion28 Feb 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Visuomotor SkillsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Kirstin-Friederike Heise, Medical University of South Carolina
- Investigators
- Kirstin-Friederike Heise, Ph.D., Principal investigator, Medical University of South Carolina
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07249801
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Pro00144782
- Other IDs
- 1P50HD118628-01
- Acronym
- SYNC
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 15 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: We intend to comply with NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy. At this stage, the plan is to share de-identified data and supporting documentation in a manner that protects participant privacy and aligns with institutional guidelines. Specific details regarding the scope of data, timing, and access procedures will be finalized as the study progresses.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- State-dependent Entrainment of Intrinsic Brain Rhythms to Improve Interregional Functional Coupling.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07249801
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SYNC / Pro00144782
- Conditions
- Visuomotor Skills, Brain Lesion (General)
- Keywords
- visuomotor processing, electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), eye-hand control
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of South CarolinaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 28 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This pilot study aims at establishing personalized state-based rTMS for precision neurorehabilitation, we designed a within-subject cross-over study to test closed-loop repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (rTMS-EEG) comparing the targeting of two key nodes in the frontoparietal network during bimanual visuomotor force tracking in persons with upper extremity sensorimotor impairment affecting eye-hand control.
Detailed description
There is a need for oscillatory or repetitive neuromodulatory tools and methods that are effective in entraining intrinsic neural rhythms to improve inefficient functional coupling within neural circuits. The goal of the proposed study is to develop a closed-loop application of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) suitable for use in multidomain precision neural-circuit based rehabilitation studies that permits the time-locked application of rTMS pulses to the phase of the intrinsic neural oscillation (personalized state-based application) in a defined behavioral context (e.g., goal-directed eye-hand control).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| state-dependent repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) | Experimental | Device: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)Repetitive TMS will be applied to cortical targets based on task-based (visuomotor) brain activation. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- adult volunteers (age ≥18 years)
- right-hand dominance (defined with the Edinburg Handedness Scale)
- voluntary whole-hand grip force (Medical Research Council scale for muscle force ≥2)
- capable of repeated grasp and release with 5% of maximum voluntary contraction (standardized with an in-house computer-based assessment involving whole-hand grip force tracking upon visual cues with a digital dynamometer).
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- presence of any MRI risk factors (such as an electrically, magnetically, mechanically activated metal or nonmetal implant including cardiac pacemaker, intracerebral vascular clips, any other electrically sensitive support system, or claustrophobia)
- presence of any contraindications to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, rTMS (e.g., history of seizures or epileptic activity, currently taking medications that lower seizure thresholds)
- any neurological or psychiatric disorders affecting cognitive function (e.g., established dementia) affecting the ability to understand the purpose of the study and give informed consent or ability to complete cognitive testing
- substance use disorder
- visual impairment that precludes completion of scanner tasks
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)Also: non-invasive brain stimulationrTMS will be applied time-locked to the intrinsic brain rhythms to individually-defined brain regions | Device | state-dependent repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) |
Primary outcome
Change of whole hand grip force precision
Time frame: 90 minutes
Force time series will be used to extract two measures for each trial to describe distinct features of visuomotor force adjustment: 1) Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) to characterize the deviation of the actual force from the target force, i.e., over- and undershoot and 2) sample entropy (SmpEn) to quantify the randomness or uncertainty of the sampled force time series. From these measures, the trial-based relative changes in RMSE and SmpEn from baseline (before intervention) will be computed.
Change of functional brain connectivity.
Time frame: 90 minutes
Trial-specific phase-based connectivity will be extracted from the electroencephalography (EEG) time series and computed relative to baseline (before intervention).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. We intend to comply with NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy. At this stage, the plan is to share de-identified data and supporting documentation in a manner that protects participant privacy and aligns with institutional guidelines. Specific details regarding the scope of data, timing, and access procedures will be finalized as the study progresses.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Kirstin-Friederike Heise, Ph.D. principal investigator
Medical University of South Carolina
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in people with Visuomotor Skills and Brain Lesion (General), run by Medical University of South Carolina at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Kirstin-Friederike Heise, PhD (843-792-3435, heisek@musc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change of whole hand grip force precision (time frame: 90 minutes). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Sep 2026.