Early access
Sign in
Taking people in United StatesNo phase

Paired brain and nerve stimulation for adults with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

Tests paired brain and nerve stimulation in adults with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Key facts

Who runs it
Columbia University
Where
New York, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Spinal Cord Associative Plasticity in Cerebral Palsy
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
25 people, planned
Started
27 Jul 2026
Expected to end
May 2032
Type of study
Interventional
Treatments tested
  • Paired brain and nerve stimulation
Record updated
14 September 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy affecting one side of the body). It tests paired brain and nerve stimulation to improve hand use.

Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
Hemiplegic cerebral palsy with Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) level I to III, a scale of how well a person uses their hands.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Seizures in the last two years
  • Taking medicines that make seizures more likely
  • Implanted devices, such as stimulators or pacemakers
  • Not able to keep caffeine and exercise levels steady at the time of sessions
  • Not able to give informed consent

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 6 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Maintenance of caffeine and exercise levels at time of sessions
  • Ability to provide informed consent
  • Manual ability classification system (MACS) level I to III

Who cannot take part

  • History of seizures in last two years
  • Use of medications that lower seizure threshold
  • History of implanted equipment including stimulators/pacemakers

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

  • Are you between 18 and 80 years old?

Where in United States

  • Columbia University Irving Medical CenterNew York, United StatesContact: Shaker Dukkipati, MD, PhDTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Associative plasticity has been used to promote functional recovery from conditions affecting movement. The long term goal of this project is to use electrical stimulation techniques to improve arm and hand function. The goal of this prospective experimental study in adults with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (hCP) is to test the effects of pairing hand motor cortical and median nerve stimulation targeted to induce plasticity in the cervical spinal cord. Based on preliminary data in neurotypical adults, the investigators are testing the effects of this approach in adults with hCP.

Read full original descriptionShow less

This study will first verify the present stimulation parameters as sufficient to promote induction of associative plasticity of sensorimotor connections for manual dexterity in adults with hCP. This will be assessed through neurophysiological, biomechanical, and clinical functional outcome measures. Successful pairing showing meaningful improvements in dexterity could then be used as an impetus for a larger study examining the efficacy of SCAP in people with hCP.

The group in the trial

  • Paired brain and nerve stimulationTreatment being tested

    With this session, participants will receive paired motor cortical stimulation and median nerve stimulation at sub-threshold intensities, timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord simultaneously.

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Paired Stimulation of Hand Motor Cortex and Median Nerve to Induce Spinal Cord Plasticity in Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
Plain-language title
Paired brain and nerve stimulation for adults with hemiplegic cerebral palsyGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Fit questions
Built from NCT07607665, who can take part
Record updated
14 September 2026