Dystonia is a disabling condition caused by painful sustained muscle contractions. Over 2000 people in the UK alone suffer from severe dystonia which affects the whole body. This can result in a lifelong disability causing abnormal postures and preventing normal movement. Dystonia is either inherited or can be acquired as a result of brain injury such as lack of oxygen at birth. A brain surgery technique called deep brain stimulation (DBS) has revolutionized severe dystonia treatment. This treatment involves wires being implanted into the brain to deliver a continuous electrical stimulus via a pacemaker. Inherited forms of the condition respond well to this treatment; however acquired forms of dystonia tend not to improve as much for largely unknown reasons.

These researchers believe that DBS works by encouraging the brain to "re-wire" into a better configuration and the various forms of dystonia have different capacities to "re-wire". This project aims to test the brain’s ability to "re-wire" in dystonia sufferers by measuring electrical recordings from the muscles, and by taking magnetic resonance image (MRI) scans before and after DBS. By understanding how different forms of the condition respond to DBS, this research should help determine the likelihood of success for this treatment and enable DBS to be given to those most likely to benefit.