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 type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 22 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 5 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Michigan Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ann Arbor, Michigan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 5, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 2028 |
| Study ends | June 2028 |
| Registry record updated | June 8, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07014592 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
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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
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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.