Cervical Spinal Cord PlasticityNCT07539025
Cervical Spinal Cord Associative Plasticity
A study testing SCAP, MagPro X100 and Digitimer DS8R in people with Cervical Spinal Cord Plasticity, run by Columbia University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Associative plasticity has been used to promote functional recovery from conditions affecting movement. Prior work from the Carmel laboratory has shown that paired associative stimulation protocols timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord induce significantly larger upper limb motor responses than if timed to… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cervical Spinal Cord Plasticity
- What is being tested?
- SCAP, MagPro X100 and Digitimer DS8R
- 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
- 9 May 2026to Jun 2029
- 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 to 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Willingness to participate in up to 4 sessions
- Maintenance of caffeine and exercise levels at time of sessions
- Ability to provide informed consent
- No known central or peripheral neurological disease or injury
- No known musculoskeletal injury of the tested arm or hand
Who cannot join
- Personal or family history of seizures
- Use of medications that lower seizure threshold
- History of implanted equipment including stimulators/pacemakers
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Jason Carmel, MD, PhD contact
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, New York, 10040
Jason Carmel, MD, PhD, 212-305-2700 ext. 3, jbc28@cumc.columbia.edu
About this study
Official title: Paired Non-invasive Stimulation of Hand Motor Cortex and Median Nerve to Induce Plasticity in the Cervical Spinal Cord
Associative plasticity has been used to promote functional recovery from conditions affecting movement. Prior work from the Carmel laboratory has shown that paired associative stimulation protocols timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord induce significantly larger upper limb motor responses than if timed to converge in the motor cortex.
The goal of this prospective experimental study in typically developing adults is to test the effects of pairing sub-threshold hand motor cortical and median nerve stimulation targeted to induce plasticity in the cervical spinal cord, rather than in the motor cortex. Based on preliminary data, the investigators are performing a confirmatory study to test the physiological and behavioral effects of the paired brain and peripheral nerve protocol, called the SCAP-Nerve protocol.
This study will first be conducted in typically developing adults to confirm the cervical spinal cord as the ideal target and verify the present stimulation parameters are sufficient to promote induction of associative plasticity of sensorimotor connections for manual dexterity. The outcomes from this study could then be translated to efficacy studies in people with spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy to promote clinically meaningful improvements in dexterity.
Read the detailed description
Associative plasticity has been used to promote functional recovery in patient populations, such as adults with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Using non-invasive neuromodulation approaches, pairing of motor cortical stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation has been shown to augment motor responses and promote plasticity, primarily through the convergence of sensory afferent stimuli and descending cortical stimuli in the motor cortex.
However, prior work from the Carmel laboratory has shown that paired associative stimulation timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord induces significantly larger upper limb motor responses than if timed to converge in the motor cortex. While paired associative stimulation has shown promise for strengthening motor responses, it is unclear if plasticity from convergence of non-invasive stimuli in the spinal cord (termed spinal cord associative plasticity or SCAP) instead of the motor cortex can produce greater motor effects, and potentially greater promotion of movement recovery.
The goal of this present study is to test the effects of pairing sub-threshold hand motor cortical and median nerve stimulation targeted to induce plasticity in the cervical spinal cord, rather than in the motor cortex. The investigators aim to fill a knowledge gap regarding the ideal target of non-invasive stimulation to maximize associative plasticity for upper limb movement recovery. The study hypothesis is that pairing low-intensity stimulation of the hand motor cortex with low-intensity median nerve stimulation will produce associative plasticity in the cervical spinal cord measured through augmentation of motor responses in upper limb muscles.
Based on preliminary data, the investigators are performing a confirmatory study to test the physiological and behavioral effects of the paired brain and peripheral nerve protocol, called the SCAP-Nerve protocol. This protocol uses a specific set of TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and PNS (peripheral nerve stimulation) parameters: targeting hand motor cortex at 90% resting motor threshold and targeting median nerve sensory afferents (with a nerve stimulus pulse duration of 1000 microseconds) at 90% resting motor threshold, precisely timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord.
This study will first be conducted with a single session of 90 trials of pairing in typically developing adults to confirm the cervical spinal cord as the ideal target and verify the present stimulation parameters as sufficient to promote induction of associative plasticity of sensorimotor connections for manual dexterity. Prior work from the Carmel laboratory has shown that the magnitude and duration of lasting effects of paired motor cortex and afferent stimulation is similar in rodents with and without neural injury.
This then drives the premise for this study that the identification of the cervical spinal cord as an ideal target for associative plasticity involving cortical and sensory afferents would inform translation to people suffering from neurological injuries such as spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy. The outcomes from this study could be translated to efficacy studies in these patient populations to determine if this plasticity is present in those populations as well. This could then lead to the investigation of whether pairing brain and afferent-targeted nerve stimulation for convergence in the cervical spinal cord can lead to clinically meaningful improvements in manual dexterity.
- Conditions
- Cervical Spinal Cord Plasticity
- Being tested
- SCAP, MagPro X100, Digitimer DS8R, Paired non-associative stimulation
- Keywords
- cervical spinal cord, paired associative stimulation, motor evoked potential, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, manual dexterity, corticospinal, sensory afferent, SCAP, spinal cord associative plasticity
- Medical subject headings
- Spinal Cord Injuries, Cerebral Palsy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
SCAPOther
This utilizes pairing of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (rPNS) timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord.
MagPro X100Device
This stimulator will be use to provide repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).
Digitimer DS8RDevice
This stimulator will be used to provide repetitive peripheral nerve stimulation (rPNS).
Paired non-associative stimulationOther
This utilizes pairing of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (rPNS) timed to arrive at a pairing interval of 40 msec.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| SCAP | Experimental | With this session, participants will receive 90 trials of 0.1hz paired motor cortical stimulation and median nerve stimulation for 15 minutes at sub-threshold intensities, timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord simultaneously. Receives: Other: SCAP |
| Cortical stimulation only | Active comparator | With this session, participants will receive 90 trials of 0.1hz motor cortical stimulation for 15 minutes at sub-threshold intensities. Receives: Device: MagPro X100 |
| Median nerve stimulation only | Active comparator | With this session, participants will receive 90 trials of 0.1hz median nerve stimulation for 15 minutes at sub-threshold intensities. Receives: Device: Digitimer DS8R |
| Paired non-associative stimulation | Active comparator | With this session, participants will receive 90 trials of 0.1hz paired motor cortical stimulation and median nerve stimulation for 15 minutes at sub-threshold intensities, timed to be 40 milliseconds apart in the cervical spinal cord. Receives: Other: Paired non-associative stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Size of muscle response to brain stimulation after SCAP (percentage)
Size of muscle response will be measured in response to brain stimulation. This value will be normalized to the equivalent measure taken before the SCAP protocol.
Measured: 30 minutes after SCAP
Secondary outcomes (6)
Size of muscle response to nerve stimulation during combined brain and nerve stimulation after SCAP (percentage)
Size of muscle response will be measured in response to brain and median nerve stimulation timed to converge in the spinal cord. This value will be normalized to the equivalent measure taken before the SCAP protocol.
Measured: Immediately after intervention, up to 1 minute
Size of muscle response to nerve stimulation during combined brain and nerve stimulation (percentage)
Size of muscle response will be measured in response to brain and median nerve stimulation timed to converge in the spinal cord. This value will be normalized to the muscle response for nerve only stimulation.
Measured: Immediately after intervention, up to 1 minute
Size of muscle response to nerve stimulation during combined brain and nerve stimulation after SCAP (percentage)
Size of muscle response will be measured in response to brain and median nerve stimulation timed to converge in the spinal cord. This value will be normalized to the equivalent measure taken before the SCAP protocol.
Measured: 30 minutes after SCAP
Duration of effect of SCAP on subsequent responses to brain stimulation
Time in minutes taken for the size of muscle response to fall to 50% of its maximal post-SCAP level.
Measured: 30 minutes after SCAP
Pinch force variability
The coefficient of variation of the pinch opposition strength between the tips of the thumb and the second finger using a handheld dynamometer. This will be recorded and compared to baseline measurements.
Measured: 30 minutes after SCAP
Pinch force speed
The rate of force development of the pinch opposition strength between the tips of the thumb and the second finger using a handheld dynamometer. This will be recorded and compared to baseline measurements.
Measured: 30 minutes after SCAP
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Apr 2026
- Study start9 May 2026
- Primary completionDec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cervical Spinal Cord PlasticityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Columbia UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- All participants will undergo all arms of the study. They will first receive the SCAP protocol, which is the source of the primary investigation in this study. Then, they will receive the three comparator arms in randomized order over multiple sessions timed at least 24 hours apart to minimize carryover effects.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Columbia University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jason Carmel, Columbia University
- Investigators
- Jason Carmel, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, Columbia University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07539025
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- AAAV2760-TD
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 22 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Ling YT, Alam M, Zheng YP. Spinal Cord Injury: Lessons about Neuroplasticity from Paired Associative Stimulation. Neuroscientist. 2020 Jun;26(3):266-277. doi: 10.1177/1073858419895461. Epub 2019 Dec 31.
PubMed 31889474Shulga A, Lioumis P, Zubareva A, Brandstack N, Kuusela L, Kirveskari E, Savolainen S, Ylinen A, Makela JP. Long-term paired associative stimulation can restore voluntary control over paralyzed muscles in incomplete chronic spinal cord injury patients. Spinal Cord Ser Cases. 2016 Jul 14;2:16016. doi: 10.1038/scsandc.2016.16. eCollection 2016.
PubMed 28053760Delvendahl I, Jung NH, Kuhnke NG, Ziemann U, Mall V. Plasticity of motor threshold and motor-evoked potential amplitude--a model of intrinsic and synaptic plasticity in human motor cortex? Brain Stimul. 2012 Oct;5(4):586-93. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2011.11.005. Epub 2012 Feb 28.
PubMed 22445536Stefan K, Kunesch E, Cohen LG, Benecke R, Classen J. Induction of plasticity in the human motor cortex by paired associative stimulation. Brain. 2000 Mar;123 Pt 3:572-84. doi: 10.1093/brain/123.3.572.
PubMed 10686179Murray LM, McIntosh JR, Goldsmith JA, Wu YK, Liu M, Sanford SP, Joiner EF, Mandigo C, Virk MS, Tyagi V, Carmel JB, Harel NY. Timing-dependent synergies between noninvasive motor cortex and spinal cord stimulation in chronic cervical spinal cord injury. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Apr 27:2025.04.17.25326011. doi: 10.1101/2025.04.17.25326011.
PubMed 40313296Murray LM, McIntosh JR, Goldsmith JA, Wu YK, Liu M, Sanford SP, Joiner EF, Mandigo C, Tyagi V, Virk MS, Carmel JB, Harel NY. Timing-dependent synergies between noninvasive motor cortex and spinal cord stimulation in chronic cervical spinal cord injury. Clin Neurophysiol. 2025 Dec;180:2111372. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2025.2111372. Epub 2025 Oct 10.
PubMed 41106070Pal A, Park H, Ramamurthy A, Asan AS, Bethea T, Johnkutty M, Carmel JB. Spinal cord associative plasticity improves forelimb sensorimotor function after cervical injury. Brain. 2022 Dec 19;145(12):4531-4544. doi: 10.1093/brain/awac235.
PubMed 36063483
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Paired Non-invasive Stimulation of Hand Motor Cortex and Median Nerve to Induce Plasticity in the Cervical Spinal Cord
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07539025
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AAAV2760-TD
- Conditions
- Cervical Spinal Cord Plasticity
- Keywords
- cervical spinal cord, paired associative stimulation, motor evoked potential, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, manual dexterity, corticospinal, sensory afferent
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Columbia UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 9 May 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Apr 2026 (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.
Associative plasticity has been used to promote functional recovery from conditions affecting movement. Prior work from the Carmel laboratory has shown that paired associative stimulation protocols timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord induce significantly larger upper limb motor responses than if timed to converge in the motor cortex.
The goal of this prospective experimental study in typically developing adults is to test the effects of pairing sub-threshold hand motor cortical and median nerve stimulation targeted to induce plasticity in the cervical spinal cord, rather than in the motor cortex. Based on preliminary data, the investigators are performing a confirmatory study to test the physiological and behavioral effects of the paired brain and peripheral nerve protocol, called the SCAP-Nerve protocol.
This study will first be conducted in typically developing adults to confirm the cervical spinal cord as the ideal target and verify the present stimulation parameters are sufficient to promote induction of associative plasticity of sensorimotor connections for manual dexterity. The outcomes from this study could then be translated to efficacy studies in people with spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy to promote clinically meaningful improvements in dexterity.
Detailed description
Associative plasticity has been used to promote functional recovery in patient populations, such as adults with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Using non-invasive neuromodulation approaches, pairing of motor cortical stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation has been shown to augment motor responses and promote plasticity, primarily through the convergence of sensory afferent stimuli and descending cortical stimuli in the motor cortex.
However, prior work from the Carmel laboratory has shown that paired associative stimulation timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord induces significantly larger upper limb motor responses than if timed to converge in the motor cortex. While paired associative stimulation has shown promise for strengthening motor responses, it is unclear if plasticity from convergence of non-invasive stimuli in the spinal cord (termed spinal cord associative plasticity or SCAP) instead of the motor cortex can produce greater motor effects, and potentially greater promotion of movement recovery.
The goal of this present study is to test the effects of pairing sub-threshold hand motor cortical and median nerve stimulation targeted to induce plasticity in the cervical spinal cord, rather than in the motor cortex. The investigators aim to fill a knowledge gap regarding the ideal target of non-invasive stimulation to maximize associative plasticity for upper limb movement recovery. The study hypothesis is that pairing low-intensity stimulation of the hand motor cortex with low-intensity median nerve stimulation will produce associative plasticity in the cervical spinal cord measured through augmentation of motor responses in upper limb muscles.
Based on preliminary data, the investigators are performing a confirmatory study to test the physiological and behavioral effects of the paired brain and peripheral nerve protocol, called the SCAP-Nerve protocol. This protocol uses a specific set of TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and PNS (peripheral nerve stimulation) parameters: targeting hand motor cortex at 90% resting motor threshold and targeting median nerve sensory afferents (with a nerve stimulus pulse duration of 1000 microseconds) at 90% resting motor threshold, precisely timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord.
This study will first be conducted with a single session of 90 trials of pairing in typically developing adults to confirm the cervical spinal cord as the ideal target and verify the present stimulation parameters as sufficient to promote induction of associative plasticity of sensorimotor connections for manual dexterity. Prior work from the Carmel laboratory has shown that the magnitude and duration of lasting effects of paired motor cortex and afferent stimulation is similar in rodents with and without neural injury.
This then drives the premise for this study that the identification of the cervical spinal cord as an ideal target for associative plasticity involving cortical and sensory afferents would inform translation to people suffering from neurological injuries such as spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy. The outcomes from this study could be translated to efficacy studies in these patient populations to determine if this plasticity is present in those populations as well. This could then lead to the investigation of whether pairing brain and afferent-targeted nerve stimulation for convergence in the cervical spinal cord can lead to clinically meaningful improvements in manual dexterity.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
- Model description
- All participants will undergo all arms of the study. They will first receive the SCAP protocol, which is the source of the primary investigation in this study. Then, they will receive the three comparator arms in randomized order over multiple sessions timed at least 24 hours apart to minimize carryover effects.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| SCAP | Experimental | Other: SCAPWith this session, participants will receive 90 trials of 0.1hz paired motor cortical stimulation and median nerve stimulation for 15 minutes at sub-threshold intensities, timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord simultaneously. |
| Cortical stimulation only | Active comparator | Device: MagPro X100With this session, participants will receive 90 trials of 0.1hz motor cortical stimulation for 15 minutes at sub-threshold intensities. |
| Median nerve stimulation only | Active comparator | Device: Digitimer DS8RWith this session, participants will receive 90 trials of 0.1hz median nerve stimulation for 15 minutes at sub-threshold intensities. |
| Paired non-associative stimulation | Active comparator | Other: Paired non-associative stimulationWith this session, participants will receive 90 trials of 0.1hz paired motor cortical stimulation and median nerve stimulation for 15 minutes at sub-threshold intensities, timed to be 40 milliseconds apart in the cervical spinal cord. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Willingness to participate in up to 4 sessions
- Maintenance of caffeine and exercise levels at time of sessions
- Ability to provide informed consent
- No known central or peripheral neurological disease or injury
- No known musculoskeletal injury of the tested arm or hand
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Personal or family history of seizures
- Use of medications that lower seizure threshold
- History of implanted equipment including stimulators/pacemakers
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SCAPThis utilizes pairing of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (rPNS) timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord. | Other | SCAP |
| MagPro X100This stimulator will be use to provide repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). | Device | Cortical stimulation only |
| Digitimer DS8RThis stimulator will be used to provide repetitive peripheral nerve stimulation (rPNS). | Device | Median nerve stimulation only |
| Paired non-associative stimulationThis utilizes pairing of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (rPNS) timed to arrive at a pairing interval of 40 msec. | Other | Paired non-associative stimulation |
Primary outcome
Size of muscle response to brain stimulation after SCAP (percentage)
Time frame: 30 minutes after SCAP
Size of muscle response will be measured in response to brain stimulation. This value will be normalized to the equivalent measure taken before the SCAP protocol.
6 secondary outcomes
Size of muscle response to nerve stimulation during combined brain and nerve stimulation after SCAP (percentage)
Time frame: Immediately after intervention, up to 1 minute
Size of muscle response to nerve stimulation during combined brain and nerve stimulation (percentage)
Time frame: Immediately after intervention, up to 1 minute
Size of muscle response to nerve stimulation during combined brain and nerve stimulation after SCAP (percentage)
Time frame: 30 minutes after SCAP
Duration of effect of SCAP on subsequent responses to brain stimulation
Time frame: 30 minutes after SCAP
Pinch force variability
Time frame: 30 minutes after SCAP
Pinch force speed
Time frame: 30 minutes after SCAP
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 22 May 2026.
- Background: PubMed 31889474Ling YT, Alam M, Zheng YP. Spinal Cord Injury: Lessons about Neuroplasticity from Paired Associative Stimulation. Neuroscientist. 2020 Jun;26(3):266-277. doi: 10.1177/1073858419895461. Epub 2019 Dec 31.
- Background: PubMed 28053760Shulga A, Lioumis P, Zubareva A, Brandstack N, Kuusela L, Kirveskari E, Savolainen S, Ylinen A, Makela JP. Long-term paired associative stimulation can restore voluntary control over paralyzed muscles in incomplete chronic spinal cord injury patients. Spinal Cord Ser Cases. 2016 Jul 14;2:16016. doi: 10.1038/scsandc.2016.16. eCollection 2016.
- Background: PubMed 22445536Delvendahl I, Jung NH, Kuhnke NG, Ziemann U, Mall V. Plasticity of motor threshold and motor-evoked potential amplitude--a model of intrinsic and synaptic plasticity in human motor cortex? Brain Stimul. 2012 Oct;5(4):586-93. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2011.11.005. Epub 2012 Feb 28.
- Background: PubMed 10686179Stefan K, Kunesch E, Cohen LG, Benecke R, Classen J. Induction of plasticity in the human motor cortex by paired associative stimulation. Brain. 2000 Mar;123 Pt 3:572-84. doi: 10.1093/brain/123.3.572.
- Background: PubMed 40313296Murray LM, McIntosh JR, Goldsmith JA, Wu YK, Liu M, Sanford SP, Joiner EF, Mandigo C, Virk MS, Tyagi V, Carmel JB, Harel NY. Timing-dependent synergies between noninvasive motor cortex and spinal cord stimulation in chronic cervical spinal cord injury. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Apr 27:2025.04.17.25326011. doi: 10.1101/2025.04.17.25326011.
- Background: PubMed 41106070Murray LM, McIntosh JR, Goldsmith JA, Wu YK, Liu M, Sanford SP, Joiner EF, Mandigo C, Tyagi V, Virk MS, Carmel JB, Harel NY. Timing-dependent synergies between noninvasive motor cortex and spinal cord stimulation in chronic cervical spinal cord injury. Clin Neurophysiol. 2025 Dec;180:2111372. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2025.2111372. Epub 2025 Oct 10.
- Background: PubMed 36063483Pal A, Park H, Ramamurthy A, Asan AS, Bethea T, Johnkutty M, Carmel JB. Spinal cord associative plasticity improves forelimb sensorimotor function after cervical injury. Brain. 2022 Dec 19;145(12):4531-4544. doi: 10.1093/brain/awac235.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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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.
Jason Carmel, MD, PhD contact
Jason Carmel, MD, PhD principal investigator
Columbia University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing SCAP, MagPro X100 and Digitimer DS8R in people with Cervical Spinal Cord Plasticity, run by Columbia University 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 5 inclusion and 3 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 22 May 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 Shaker Dukkipati, MD, PhD (2123046501, sd3850@cumc.columbia.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Size of muscle response to brain stimulation after SCAP (percentage) (time frame: 30 minutes after SCAP). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07539025, which also lists 7 linked publications.
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 22 May 2026.