Investigating brain activity patterns in epilepsy to improve diagnosis and treatment
Official title: electroencephalography and single-unit recordings
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10992187 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain activity during sleep can help doctors find where seizures start in people with epilepsy, using special brain wave recordings to improve treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2020 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $163,080 |
| NIH project number | 5K23NS112473-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10992187 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with focal epilepsy and experience refractory seizures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with epilepsy who do not have focal seizures or those under the age of 21 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms behind epilepsy, particularly how abnormal slow-wave activity during sleep can serve as a diagnostic marker for identifying the seizure onset zone in patients. By utilizing high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG) and intracranial EEG (iEEG) recordings, the study aims to analyze brain activity in patients with focal epilepsy. The goal is to quantify sleep slow-wave activity in different brain regions to better understand seizure propagation and improve therapeutic strategies for epilepsy management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate diagnostic tools and new neuroprotective therapies for patients with epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using sleep slow-wave activity as a marker for seizure activity, indicating that this approach may yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boly, Melanie — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Boly, Melanie
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.