← Back to Search

Brain Stimulation for Memory Impairments in Epilepsy (MEMREINS Trial)

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Michael Kahana, PhD

Research Sponsored by University of Pennsylvania

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Subjects expected to undergo intracranial electroencephalographic monitoring as part of treatment for pharmacologically resistant epilepsy.

Be older than 18 years old

Must not have

Cognitive impairments limiting participation in memory testing

Physical disability limiting performance of cognitive tasks within normal limits

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up up to 4 weeks (typical duration of hospital stay)

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial will study the effects of electrical brain stimulation on memory in patients with memory impairments.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy who are already scheduled to have brain monitoring. Participants should be able to perform memory tests and give informed consent. It's not suitable for those with cognitive or physical disabilities affecting task performance, psychiatric conditions impacting consent, other serious medical issues, or pregnant women.

What is being tested?

The study uses direct electrical brain stimulation during verbal and spatial memory tasks to understand how the brain processes memories. This research involves multiple sites working together and participants will undergo experiments while being monitored.

What are the potential side effects?

While the description doesn't list specific side effects, direct electrical stimulation of the brain may cause discomfort at the stimulation site, temporary changes in mood or memory function, headaches, or seizures.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

Select...

I am scheduled for brain monitoring due to hard-to-treat epilepsy.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

Select...

I have memory issues that may affect my participation in tests.

Select...

My physical disability does not affect my ability to think or understand.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ up to 4 weeks (typical duration of hospital stay)

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~up to 4 weeks (typical duration of hospital stay)

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 4 weeks (typical duration of hospital stay) for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

To assess how reactivation of prior memories shapes subsequent recall and memory organization, including memory for the content, context and value of experiences.

To determine how simultaneous stimulation at multiple target sites can be optimized to modulate memory

To determine whether state-dependent stimulation can separately be used to modulate encoding and retrieval processes

+3 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Direct Electrical StimulationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Stimulation will be applied concurrently with the task, if applicable, and stimulation trials will be interleaved with sham trials, where no stimulation is delivered.

0 / 3Eligibility criteria met