Can a bedside brain scan (fNIRS) detect activity in healthy people and in people with disorders of consciousness

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study uses functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor changes in blood oxygenation as a proxy for brain activity in healthy volunteers and in patients with coma or related conditions. It compares responses to sensory stimulation and mental tasks to assess feasibility in the Neuro-ICU setting. The goal is to determine if a portable, bedside method can reveal preserved brain responses when behavioral assessments are limited. The study is conducted at UCLA, leveraging ICU-adjacent facilities to minimize patient transport requirements. Enrollment includes adults with intact English comprehension and specific criteria for DoC patients, aiming to establish the practicality and potential value of fNIRS in assessing awareness.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy Control Participants:

* Age 18 years or older
* Proficient in English language
* Intact cognition
* Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \> 26

DoC Patients:

* Age 18 years or older
* Proficient in English language
* Surrogate decision maker available
* Admission to the intensive care unit within 28 days
* Documented Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score
* Auditory Function subscale score ≥1 on the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R)

Exclusion Criteria:

Healthy Control Participants:

* Known baseline hearing impairment without available hearing aids
* Neurological or psychiatric history

DoC Patients:

* Known baseline hearing impairment without available hearing aids
* Inability to obtain informed consent
* Extensive bilateral frontal injury on available imaging (CT/MRI)
* Patients who have undergone craniectomy surgery
* IV sedation in the past 24 hours
* Absent auditory startle response (\<1 from Auditory Function subscale score of CRS-R)

Where it's running

• UCLA School of Nursing; Ronald Reagan Medical Center
  Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Lauren H Furtick, MSN, RN, PhD Candidate
• Email: lfurtick@ucla.edu
• Phone: (424)281-0121

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.