CIMT + taVNS for Perinatal Brain Injury
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This study is for infants and toddlers between 8 and 24 months old who use one arm and/or hand differently following a perinatal brain injury. This is a time when investigators think they can best help improve how the brain controls movement. Investigators are testing whether the combination of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) with 40 hours of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) can help infants move their weaker arm and hand better and make the brain pathways for movement stronger.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Bernadette Gillick, PhD, MSPT
Principal Investigator
UW School of Medicine and Public Health
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for infants and toddlers aged 8 to 24 months who have weakness in one arm or hand due to a brain injury around birth. They must not have had similar therapy recently, should be able to attend appointments over two weeks, and need follow-up after three months.Inclusion Criteria
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
- Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS)
Trial Overview
Researchers are testing if combining gentle electrical stimulation of the ear (taVNS) with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) helps young children improve use of their weaker arm and strengthens brain pathways for movement.
How Is the Trial Designed?
1
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Therapy sessions in this study will take 4 hours a day, 5 days a week for 2 weeks (40 hours total CIMT). Sticker like sensors (electrodes) are placed just inside and outside the child's left earlobe at the start of the session to deliver the taVNS. During daily therapy sessions, the taVNS will be on whenever the child moves their free arm, for up to 2.5 minutes at a time.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Lead Sponsor
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