← Back to Search

Brain Stimulation

Brain Stimulation for Epilepsy and Memory Control

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Flavio Frohlich, PhD

Research Sponsored by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

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

Must have

History of medically intractable epilepsy

Be older than 18 years old

Must not have

Current diagnosis of other neurological illnesses including ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, brain neoplasm

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up during the 1- to 1.5-hour test at baseline and stimulation session conducted over a 1 to 2 day period

Summary

This trial aims to understand how brain waves affect memory control. The study will involve patients with epilepsy who had electrodes implanted previously. A total of 50 participants will take part in the study. They will

Who is the study for?

This trial is for patients with medically intractable epilepsy who have had electrodes implanted for monitoring. They must be able to consent, speak English, and not have other major neurological illnesses, severe cognitive or psychiatric conditions, substance abuse issues, or any risk factors that could affect their participation as judged by the investigator.

What is being tested?

The study tests how different types of brain stimulation (theta and alpha oscillations) affect working memory control. Participants will undergo direct cortical stimulation while performing a cognitive task to see which stimulation methods best modulate brain activity.

What are the potential side effects?

While specific side effects are not listed here, direct cortical stimulation can potentially cause discomfort at the electrode site, headaches, seizures during the procedure (in those predisposed), and transient changes in mood or cognition.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

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

Select...

I have epilepsy that doesn't respond to treatment.

Exclusion Criteria

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

Select...

I do not have any other brain-related illnesses.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ during the 1- to 1.5-hour test at baseline and stimulation session conducted over a 1 to 2 day period

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~during the 1- to 1.5-hour test at baseline and stimulation session conducted over a 1 to 2 day period

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and during the 1- to 1.5-hour test at baseline and stimulation session conducted over a 1 to 2 day period for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

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

Primary study objectives

Change in Working Memory Task Performance - Pashler's working memory capacity metric (k)

Change in Working Memory Task Performance - Reaction Time

Intracranial EEG Multi-taper fft

+1 more

Secondary study objectives

Intracranial EEG Granger causality

Intracranial EEG Wavelets

Intracranial EEG phase locking

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Active Control

Placebo Group

Group I: Frontal StimulationActive Control3 Interventions

Direct Cortical Stimulation (DCS) in alpha and theta frequencies is applied through electrodes located in the frontal cortex.

Group II: Frontal Parietal StimulationPlacebo Group3 Interventions

Direct Cortical Stimulation (DCS) in in-phase and anti-phase theta frequencies is applied through electrodes located in the frontal and parietal cortex.

0 / 2Eligibility criteria met