Investigating brain areas involved in perceiving time to contact during awake brain surgery

Localizing in the Brain the Areas of Time to Contact Perception During an Awake Surgery

Not applicable Interventional University Hospital, Toulouse · NCT04128306

This study is testing which parts of the brain help people judge how close something is while they are awake during brain surgery for tumor removal.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment240 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Toulouse Academic / other
Locations1 site (Toulouse)
Trial IDNCT04128306 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to identify the brain areas responsible for time-to-contact (TTC) perception during awake brain surgery for tumor removal. Patients will be tested in both pre-surgery and during surgery phases, where neurosurgeons will stimulate specific brain regions to observe their involvement in TTC estimation tasks. The study will include three groups: patients whose tumors do not affect TTC ability, those whose tumors do, and a control group. The goal is to enhance understanding of cognitive functions related to visual perception and their neural correlates.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients with brain tumors that do not affect dominant hand motricity and who can participate in awake surgery.

Not a fit: Patients with tumors located in the occipital area or those with neurological diseases may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could improve surgical outcomes by better preserving cognitive functions during brain tumor surgeries.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using awake surgery to study cognitive functions is established, the specific focus on TTC perception is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

For the patients:

* Brain tumor that does not affect the dominant hand motricity. The patient that have a tumor in an area targeted for a cortical stimulation will be automatically enrolled within the Pre-End group.
* Who will agree with all terms and sign the experimental agreement
* Correct or corrected vision, as allowed by the surgery constraints
* With no known oculomotor abnormalities (list of exclusion in Annexe)
* Affiliated to a social security system

For the control group:

* Who will agree with all terms and sign the experimental agreement
* Correct or corrected vision
* With no known oculomotor abnormalities.
* Affiliated to a social security system

Exclusion Criteria:

For the patients:

* Brain tumor located in the occipital area
* Legally protected patient, or with unknown ability to sign the experimental agreement, as determined by the medical team.
* Medical background of neurological diseases of the central nervous system, as Parkinson, Alzheimer, stroke
* Pregnancy

For the control group:

* Legally protected patient, or with unknown ability to sign the experimental agreement, as determined by the medical team.
* Medical background of neurological diseases of the central nervous system, as Parkinson, Alzheimer, stroke
* Pregnancy

Where this trial is running

Toulouse

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Brain TumorsTime to contact estimationawake brain surgerybrain tumorcerebral mapping
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.