Mapping how repeated brain stimulation changes neural activity using implanted and scalp recordings
Official title: Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Repetitive Brain Stimulation With Invasive and Noninvasive Electrophysiology in Humans
Run by Stanford University · NCT05996900 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) changes brain activity in people with major depressive disorder or epilepsy by comparing direct recordings from implanted electrodes to noninvasive recordings.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 49 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Stanford University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Stanford, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 1, 2023 |
| Main results expected | October 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | March 12, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05996900 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18–65 who are undergoing phase II intracranial monitoring for medication-refractory epilepsy, have the capacity to consent, and no other major neurological disorders are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People who are not undergoing intracranial monitoring, have MRI contraindications, unstable medical conditions, active substance abuse, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding are unlikely to be eligible or to receive benefit from participating.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The study delivers repeated sessions of repetitive TMS while recording brain activity with intracranial electrodes in patients undergoing phase II monitoring for medication-refractory epilepsy and with noninvasive measures. Investigators will characterize the immediate neural response to a single TMS session and how those responses build or change across daily sessions to define plasticity and metaplasticity. Collected invasive and noninvasive electrophysiological signals will be analyzed to identify biomarkers that track stimulation effects and to build computational models linking single-cell plasticity rules to human brain responses. The results will be used to guide more precise TMS targeting and dosing in future clinical applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify brain signals that help personalize and improve TMS dosing, potentially increasing remission rates for depression and improving stimulation targeting.
How similar studies have gone: TMS is an established treatment for depression and prior small studies have shown physiological brain responses to stimulation, but combining high-resolution invasive recordings with noninvasive measures to map metaplasticity is largely novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women, ages 18 to 65 * Medication-refractory epilepsy requiring phase II monitoring * Must have intellectual capacity to ensure adequate comprehension of the study and potential risks involved in order to provide informed consent * No current or history of major neurological disorders other than epilepsy Exclusion Criteria: * Those with a contraindication for MRIs (e.g. implanted metal) * Any unstable medical condition * Neurological or uncontrolled medical disease * Active substance abuse * Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Where it's running
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Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jade Truong
- Email: kellerlab@stanford.edu
- Phone: (408) 840-3313
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.