Can magnetic pulses rewire the brain to ease movement symptoms?
NCT ID NCT05155059
First seen Aug 12, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can improve symptoms of functional movement disorder (FMD), a condition causing involuntary movements without a known neurological cause. Adults aged 18 to 80 with a neurologist-confirmed FMD diagnosis will be randomly assigned to receive either real TMS or a sham (placebo) treatment over five daily sessions. Researchers will compare symptom changes at one, two, and six months after treatment to see if the stimulation offers lasting relief.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) using intermittent theta burst stimulation
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this could offer a non-invasive, drug-free treatment option to reduce disabling symptoms of functional movement disorder.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early-phase trial, so results may not apply broadly. The sham comparison helps, but benefits could be modest or temporary, and TMS may cause mild side effects like headache or scalp discomfort.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
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