The purpose of this research study is to learn how Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), which targets a part of the brain called the subthalamic nucleus (STN), may affect thinking and memory in people with Parkinson's Disease (PD). We plan to include about 55 people with PD who have already had DBS surgery at MUSC's Clinical DBS Program.

As part of the study, participants will attend two visits after their DBS surgery. The first visit, which will last about three hours, includes going over the study information and consent form, collecting background information (demographics), and completing tests that measure thinking and memory (cognitive assessments) and speech. The second visit, also about three hours, will involve an MRI scan to look at how the brain's networks change when the DBS device is turned on and off. Participants have the option to combine visits 1 and 2. Participant's will also be invited to undergo an optional second scan. If participants consent, the second scan will be performed on a separate day than the first scan and therefore, there will be a total of 3 study visits.

These findings may help doctors and researchers make better decisions about which patients are most likely to benefit from DBS surgery and how to choose the best stimulation settings to reduce unwanted changes in thinking and memory.

Adolescence is a time of development in the brain and microbiome, including the microbiome present in the mouth called the oral microbiome. Alcohol use often begins and escalates during adolescence, which can cause changes to the oral microbiome leading to changes in the brain. The alcohol specific changes to the oral microbiome and the brain may make adolescents more vulnerable to a lifelong struggle with alcohol use disorder. This study will collect (1) saliva to assess the composition of the oral microbiome and (2) brain measurements using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) across adolescents who may or may not use alcohol. Findings from this study will help form a more thorough understanding of the biological consequences of adolescent alcohol use, with the long-term goal of informing novel prevention and intervention efforts.

The aim of this study is to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to capture images of participants' brains and apply an image processing method called INSCAPE to assess brain states. This study will recruit participants who are scheduled to receive accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Participation in this study involves two visits, each including a 30-minute MRI scan. The interval between each visit is about one week. Depressed participants will also complete mood assessments at various intervals while they are receiving accelerated TMS for depression.

Hypermobile EDS and hypermobile spectrum disorder (collectively referred to as hEDS) are estimated to affect 1 in 500 individuals worldwide. This study will enroll hEDS patients to test a new ear stimulation system to help reduce symptoms associated with hEDS, including pain and GI problems. Ear stimulation will be applied twice daily, for four weeks at home, and we will collect electronic behavioral data to track progress.

As people get older, understanding speech in a noisy environment can become more difficult. The MUSC Hearing Research Program is seeking healthy adults between 25 and 89 years of age to participate in a research study to investigate the connection between listening difficulties and the brain. Payment is provided for participation and scheduling is flexible. The study involves two visits. Participants must be able to complete an MRI. Please contact us if you would like to participate in this research or learn more about our study.

For this study, we are recruiting 54 individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Freezing of Gait (FOG) who are planning to undergo Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). The objective of this study is to better understand the FOG response to DBS. Prior to DBS study participants will undergo a MRI scan, behavioral assessment related to walking, a cognitive evaluation, and assessment of other Parkinson's disease symptoms. Following DBS participants will repeat these assessments at multiple timepoints over the period of three years. Overall, participants will complete a total of 9 visits over a period of approximately 3 years.

Smoking is one of the main public health problems. Smoking cessation is difficult because of nicotine dependence. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the frontal head has shown to be effective in the reduction of cigarette consumption and craving. In this study, we will evaluate the efficiency of a new form of rTMS called intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) for smoking cessation.

The goal of this study proposal is to develop a biorepository which will collect and store central nervous system (CNS) tissue, connective tissue, blood, or cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) for future research. This material will be collected from children with CNS conditions or defects. This will be a very useful resource to scientists who work to develop new approaches to prevent and treat conditions that affect children's brains and nervous systems.

This study is testing citicoline as a possible medication to treat alcohol use disorder. Youth (ages 16-22) will be randomly assigned to receive either citicoline (2000mg per day) and or a placebo for four weeks.

All participants will receive brief counseling from a trained clinician and will undergo a brain scan and cognitive testing at the beginning and end of the treatment.

Participants must provide informed consent and youth under 18 must have parental consent to participate. The full study will last approximately one month.

Compensation is available to those who qualify.

This study will examine how marijuana use can affect oral bacteria and brain health in people with HIV and without HIV. Early studies show that marijuana users have more oral bacteria than non-marijuana users. The increase in bacteria is believed to affect brain health. Participation in the study will be one visit. The visit will take approximately 120 minutes.