Understanding how brain activity affects memory in temporal lobe epilepsy
Official title: Determining the shared neuronal network mechanisms of focal epileptic discharges and impaired memory processing in temporal lobe epilepsy
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11092707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain activity related to temporal lobe epilepsy affects memory, and it's for people with this type of epilepsy who want to understand why they might have memory issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $392,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS128222-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092707 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy who experience memory difficulties.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without temporal lobe epilepsy or those who do not experience memory issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between focal epileptic discharges and memory problems in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. By using advanced recording techniques, the study aims to identify how specific brain networks are disrupted during memory tasks. The researchers will analyze brain activity in both human patients and a mouse model to uncover the underlying mechanisms of these memory impairments. This could lead to a better understanding of how epilepsy affects cognitive functions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for memory impairments in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in understanding the relationship between brain activity and memory, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ewell, Laura — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Ewell, Laura
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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-
Epilepsy Data Ecosystem: A Big-Data Sharing Platform for Better Care
A national effort to collect and share large, multi‑modal brain data from people with medication‑resistant epilepsy to speed discoveries and improve treatment options.
-
Exploring epilepsy genes in zebrafish to understand human brain seizures
A study in zebrafish will model human epilepsy genes to help explain how certain brain mutations contribute to seizures.
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New MRI tools to better plan pediatric epilepsy surgery
A new MRI-based approach helps doctors decide the best time to surgically remove brain tissue in children with difficult-to-control seizures.
-
Sahel Epilepsy Study: finding patterns in epilepsy in rural Africa and its links to genes
A plan to study epilepsy in rural Nigeria to discover how common it is, what factors affect risk, and how genetics may influence it, with results that could improve care for people with epilepsy.
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.