Throat vibrations may calm voice spasms by rewiring brain networks
NCT ID NCT07443891
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at how a gentle vibration applied to the throat affects brain activity and voice in people with laryngeal dystonia, a condition that causes involuntary voice spasms. Researchers will use brain scans and voice recordings to understand why some people get relief from this simple technique. The goal is to learn more about how the treatment works, not to test a cure.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jan 2026
- Expected to finish
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Feb 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
LD Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of laryngeal dystonia previously made by a voice disorder specialist and confirmed by Dr. Misono, UM Otolaryngology. LD Exclusion Criteria: * Regular intake of benzodiazepines * Cognitive impairment: score \< 27 on Mini-mental state examination; score \> 19 on Beck depression inventory * Identifies with a neurological or musculoskeletal impairment affecting speech motor function. These impairments may include a form of: Dyskinesia, Dystonia, Essential Tremor, Huntington's Disease, Multiple System Atrophy, Muscle Tension Dysphonia, Parkinsonism, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Spasticity, Intracranial Neoplasm (brain tumor), Spinal Neoplasm, Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke), Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Intracranial Hemorrhage, Multiple Sclerosis * Subjects with any type of bio-implant activated by mechanical, electronic, or magnetic means (e.g. cochlear implants, pacemakers, neurostimulators, biostimulators, electronic infusion pumps, etc.). * Subjects with any type of ferromagnetic bio-implant that could potentially be displaced or damaged, such as aneurysm clips, metallic skull plates, etc. * Pregnant females (if questionable doubt, self-test with over-the-counter pregnancy kit). * Subjects that exhibit noticeable anxiety and/or claustrophobia. * Subjects who have cardiac or known circulatory impairment, and/or the inability to perspire (poor thermoregulatory function). * Subjects who have known conditions which can lead to emergency medical care. * Subjects who have been diagnosed by a physician as having a psychiatric disorder, substance abuse, neurological, or cardiovascular disease, had a brain tumor or stroke, started taking chemotherapy or immunomodulatory agents, or had any radiation treatment that could affect the brain. * Subjects who have gotten a non-removable piercing or permanent eyeliner. * Subjects who have had a head injury that caused the loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes or have amnesia for more than 24 hours. * Anyone with a history of head trauma that may have caused Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or some type of metal in the body, either from a medical procedure or an injury. * Any subject with a professional or academic link to one of the PIs. * We will not enroll vulnerable populations (i.e., fetuses, neonates, pregnant women, children under the age of 18 years, or prisoners). Healthy Controls Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy adults, aged 18-75 years with no known neurological or orthopedic deficits that may affect speech motor functions. Healthy Controls Exclusion Criteria: * No history of impairments affecting speech or voice function * Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) score above normative cut-off values * Regular intake of benzodiazepines. * Cognitive impairment: score \< 27 on Mini-mental state examination; score \> 19 on Beck depression inventory. * Subjects with any type of bio-implant activated by mechanical, electronic, or magnetic means (e.g. cochlear implants, pacemakers, neurostimulators, biostimulators, electronic infusion pumps, etc.). * Subjects with any type of ferromagnetic bio-implant that could potentially be displaced or damaged, such as aneurysm clips, metallic skull plates, etc. * Pregnant females (if questionable doubt, self-test with over-the-counter pregnancy kit). * Subjects that exhibit noticeable anxiety and/or claustrophobia. * Subjects who have cardiac or known circulatory impairment, and/or the inability to perspire (poor thermoregulatory function). * Subjects who have known conditions which can lead to emergency medical care. * Subjects who have been diagnosed by a physician as having a psychiatric disorder, substance abuse, neurological, or cardiovascular disease, had a brain tumor or stroke, started taking chemotherapy or immunomodulatory agents, or had any radiation treatment that could affect the brain. * Subjects who have gotten a non-removable piercing or permanent eyeliner. * Subjects who have had a head injury that caused the loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes or have amnesia for more than 24 hours. * Anyone with a history of head trauma that may have caused Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or some type of metal in the body, either from a medical procedure or an injury. * Any subject with a professional or academic link to one of the PIs. * We will not enroll vulnerable populations (i.e., fetuses, neonates, pregnant women, children under the age of 18 years, or prisoners).
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Minnesota
RECRUITINGMinneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can brain stimulation restore a steady voice?
- Could magnetic pulses to the brain ease a rare voice disorder?
- Vibrating neck device may help rare voice disorder
- Could a magnet on the head ease voice spasms?
- Brain zaps for voice relief: new trial targets laryngeal dystonia
- New device aims to improve diagnosis of voice disorders