🏛️ Verified NIH Record • Updated 2026-04-30

Attention and Eye Movement in Parkinson's Disease (NCT06899022)

Investigating the Role of Attention in Perceptual and Cognitive Consequences of Parkinson's Disease

🟢 Recruiting Observational / Diagnostic 📋 Clinical Research Protocol Sponsor: University of Nebraska

🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

The goal of this observational and interventional study is to understand how therapeutic deep brain stimulation (DBS) affects attention, perception and cognition in participants with Parkinson's disease (PD) and non-PD movement disorders, including essential tremor (ET) and dystonia (DT). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does impaired control of attention and eye movement in PD alter how social cues are perceived and interpreted? * Does therapeutic DBS improve or worsen attentional and perceptual deficits for social cues in PD, ET and DT? * Can DBS be optimized to restore normal attentional control in PD while remaining an effective therapy for other aspects of the disorder. * What do parts of the brain targeted by DBS contribute to the control of attention? Using an eye tracking camera, investigators will study how participants with PD, ET and DT look at and perceive facial expressions of emotion before and after starting DBS therapy, in comparison to a group of healthy participants without ET, PD, DT or DBS. Participants with PD, ET and DT will see and rate morphed facial expressions on a computer screen in three conditions: * Before starting DBS therapy (over approximately 1 hour). * In the operating room, during the standard procedure to implant DBS electrodes, while the participant is awake (for no more than 15 minutes). * After starting DBS therapy, with brief experimental changes of DBS stimulation level and frequency (over approximately 1 hour).

Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (20 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (15 items).

Location: University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, Nebraska

Age range: 19 Years to 90 Years

🧪 Interventions in This Study

  • Normal therapeutic DBS (OTHER)
  • Reduced current DBS (OTHER)
  • Reduced frequency DBS (OTHER)

📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Check every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).

Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:

  • Exclusion Criteria
  • All Participants (Aim 1):
  • Corrected visual acuity insufficient to perceptually judge face stimuli
  • Inability to understand task instructions or complete task requirements
  • DBS Participants (Aim 1): o Insufficient therapeutic control of motor symptoms to engage in tasks requiring button press or use of a mouse to control a slider
  • Healthy Comparison Participants (Aim 1): o History of neurodegenerative disorder
  • Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor (ET) and dystonia (DT) Participants (Aim 2):
  • Corrected visual acuity insufficient to perceptually judge face stimuli
  • Inability to understand task instructions or complete task requirements
  • Not undergoing awake DBS implantation
  • Uncorrected visual acuity insufficient to perceptually judge face stimuli
  • Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor (ET) and dystonia (DT) Participants (Aim 3):

🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.

📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)

  • University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, Nebraska

📞 Contact the Study Coordinator

Phone: (319) 471-3372

Email: ckovach@unmc.edu

Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.

💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

  • 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
  • Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
  • Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

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💡 How to Participate

  1. Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
  2. Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
  3. Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
  4. Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.
🏛️ View Official NIH Record ↗