NCT07539025 Cervical Spinal Cord Associative Plasticity
| NCT ID | NCT07539025 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Columbia University |
| Condition | Cervical Spinal Cord Plasticity |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 20 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-05-09 |
| Primary Completion | 2028-12 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 20 participants in total. It began in 2026-05-09 with a primary completion date of 2028-12.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Associative plasticity has been used to promote functional recovery from conditions affecting movement. Prior work from the Carmel laboratory has shown that paired associative stimulation protocols timed to converge in the cervical spinal cord induce significantly larger upper limb motor responses than if timed to converge in the motor cortex. The goal of this prospective experimental study in typically developing adults is to test the effects of pairing sub-threshold hand motor cortical and median nerve stimulation targeted to induce plasticity in the cervical spinal cord, rather than in the motor cortex. Based on preliminary data, the investigators are performing a confirmatory study to test the physiological and behavioral effects of the paired brain and peripheral nerve protocol, called the SCAP-Nerve protocol. This study will first be conducted in typically developing adults to confirm the cervical spinal cord as the ideal target and verify the present stimulation parameters are sufficient to promote induction of associative plasticity of sensorimotor connections for manual dexterity. The outcomes from this study could then be translated to efficacy studies in people with spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy to promote clinically meaningful improvements in dexterity.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Willingness to participate in up to 4 sessions * Maintenance of caffeine and exercise levels at time of sessions * Ability to provide informed consent * No known central or peripheral neurological disease or injury * No known musculoskeletal injury of the tested arm or hand Exclusion Criteria: * Personal or family history of seizures * Use of medications that lower seizure threshold * History of implanted equipment including stimulators/pacemakers
Contact & Investigator
Jason Carmel, MD, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Columbia University
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07539025 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 80 Years, studying Cervical Spinal Cord Plasticity. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07539025 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07539025 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at sd3850@cumc.columbia.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07539025 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at New York, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07539025 clinical trial?
NCT07539025 is sponsored by Columbia University. The principal investigator is Jason Carmel, MD, PhD at Columbia University. The trial plans to enroll 20 participants.