Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 22 to 75

Measuring brain responses to small electrical stimulation in people with medication-resistant epilepsy

Official title: Characterization and Analysis of Evoked Cortical Responses in Participants With Medication-intractable Epilepsy

Run by University of Michigan · NCT07014592 · Data updated 2026-11-12

We will test whether special electrodes and tiny electrical pulses can record brain responses in people with medication-resistant epilepsy who are having surgery to remove a seizure focus.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages22 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
Enrollment5 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Michigan
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMay 5, 2025
Main results expectedJune 2028
Study endsJune 2028
Registry record updatedJune 8, 2026
Trial IDNCT07014592 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults with medication-resistant (intractable) epilepsy who are recommended for surgical removal of a seizure focus, can provide informed consent, and have no permanent electronic implants or medical conditions preventing electrode placement.

Probably not a fit

People whose seizures are controlled with medication, who are not undergoing epilepsy surgery, or who have permanent electronic implants or other conditions that prevent safe electrode placement are unlikely to benefit.

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

What this trial studies

This single-site project at the University of Michigan uses a novel combination of recording electrodes and stimulating probes placed on or in the brain during clinically indicated epilepsy surgery. Investigators will deliver small electrical pulses and record evoked cortical responses from the implanted electrodes. The work aims to characterize how the cortex responds to these signals to improve localization of seizure-related areas. Participants with permanent electronic implants or medical conditions that prevent safe electrode placement will be excluded.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help surgeons more precisely identify seizure-generating brain tissue and tailor resections to reduce seizures while preserving healthy tissue.

How similar studies have gone: Electrical stimulation and intracranial recordings have been used previously to map brain responses, but the specific combination of recording electrodes in this protocol is novel and not yet widely validated.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with medication intractable epilepsy who are recommended to undergo brain surgery to remove a "seizure" focus
* Can provide informed consent for the study and willing to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of a permanent electronic implant
* Any chronic medical conditions that prevent safe placement of electrodes

Where it's running

  • University of Michigan
    Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Matthew Willsey, MD, PhD — University of Michigan
  • Study coordinator: Ron Ball
  • Email: rmball@umich.edu
  • Phone: 734 936-7010

Similar studies

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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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.