Investigating brain network interactions to improve memory
CAUSAL MECHANISMS OF DISTRIBUTED BRAIN NETWORK FUNCTION DURING EPISODIC MEMORY RETRIEVAL
NA · Northwestern University · NCT04748146
This study is testing if creating personalized brain maps can help improve memory by guiding brain stimulation for people with memory problems.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Northwestern University (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Trial ID | NCT04748146 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This project aims to explore the interactions of brain networks involved in episodic memory by using advanced functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to create individual brain network maps. These maps will guide the placement of intracranial electrodes for brain stimulation during memory tasks. The study seeks to enhance our understanding of the neural systems related to episodic memory and to establish a proof-of-principle for using personalized network mapping to inform brain stimulation therapies. This approach could lead to improved treatment strategies for various neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with memory impairments.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adult inpatients at Northwestern Memorial Hospital undergoing intracranial electroencephalography for epilepsy monitoring.
Not a fit: Patients under 18 years of age and those not undergoing the specific epilepsy monitoring procedures relevant to the study will not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more effective brain stimulation therapies for patients suffering from memory-related disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using individual-level network mapping for brain stimulation is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in understanding brain networks and their implications for treatment.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Participants will be inpatients of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Comprehensive Epilepsy Center undergoing intracranial electroencephalography for presurgical planning as part of their routine care for epilepsy. Participants will be recruited to participate in the study if their epilepsy monitoring procedures will include placement of recording electrodes at locations of interest to our study, which include the medial temporal lobe, frontal cortex, parietal cortex, and temporal cortex. The decision regarding where to place electrodes is made for purely clinical purposes and we recruit patients with locations that are relevant to our research question as a convenience sample. We will exclude children under the age of 18 years as brain development is still occurring in children under the age of 18 years relative to adults. Furthermore, children rarely receive iEEG for epilepsy and therefore would not be available to recruit into the study. Special populations listed below will not participate in this study. Excluded populations include: 1. Adults legally unable to provide informed consent 2. Individuals who are not yet adults (children below the age of 18) 3. Pregnant women 4. Prisoners To help determine eligibility for the MRI portion of the study, a safety questionnaire will be administered by research staff prior to receiving an MRI. Answers to these questions are used to determine whether subjects meet any of the exclusionary criteria listed next. Exclusions for MRI include standard MRI contraindications, including claustrophobia, metal implants or fragments in the body, and actual or potential pregnancy.
Where this trial is running
Chicago, Illinois
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital — Chicago, Illinois, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Rodrigo M Braga, PhD — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Mary Blocher
- Email: mary.blocher@northwestern.edu
- Phone: 312.503.2093
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Episodic Memory, Default Network, Brain Stimulation