Physiological Investigations of Movement Disorders

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR MOVEMENT DISORDER PATIENTS:

• Patients will either have a well-defined diagnosis or be a diagnostic dilemma, depending upon the substudy
• Age 18 or older
• Able to give informed consent
• Agree to not drink caffeine or alcohol for 48 hours before each study session because both agents can modify brain activity and may confound outcome measures.

INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS:

• Age 18 or older.
• Able to give informed consent.
• Agree to not drink caffeine or alcohol for 48 hours before each study session because both agents may modify the activity of the brain during the study.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR MOVEMENT DISORDER PATIENTS:

• Have used illegal drugs within the past 6 months
• Have more than 7 alcoholic drinks a week in the case of a woman or 14 alcoholic drinks a week in the case of a man.
• Have had a brain tumor, a stroke, head trauma, epilepsy or a history of seizures.
• Have a psychotic disorder, Bipolar Disorder or a current depressive episode.
• Have another neurologic disorder than a movement disorder
• Have had a head injury where there was a loss of consciousness for more than a few seconds.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS:

• Have abnormal findings on a neurological examination that we will perform
• Have used illegal drugs within the past 6 months
• Have more than 7 alcoholic drinks a week in the case of a woman or 14 alcoholic drinks a week in the case of a man
• Have had a brain tumor, a stroke, head trauma, epilepsy or a history of seizures.
• Have major depression or any major mental disorders (axis I disorders)
• Have a neurological disorder.
• Have had a head injury where there was a loss of consciousness for more than a few seconds.

ADDITIONAL EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR MOVEMENT DISORDER PATIENTS AND HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS SPECIFICALLY FOR fMRI:

• Have metal in the body, such as a cardiac pacemaker, brain stimulator, shrapnel, surgical metal, clips in the brain or on blood vessels, cochlear implants, artificial heart valves or metal fragments in the eye as these make having an MRI unsafe.
• Have metallic dental fillings which are likely to cause MRI artifacts
• Unable to lie flat on the back for up to 2 hours
• Have uncontrolled movements of the head
• Have an abnormality on the brain imaging or neurologic examination
• Uncomfortable being in a small space for up to 2 hours
• Pregnancy

ADDITIONAL EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR MOVEMENT DISORDER PATIENTS AND HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS SPECIFICALLY FOR TMS:

• Have metal in the body, such as a cardiac pacemaker, brain stimulator, shrapnel, surgical metal, clips in the brain, cochlear implants, metal fragments in the eye, as these make TMS unsafe.
• Have hearing loss.