Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Interventional Ages 15 and up

Memory abilities in people with disorders of consciousness

Official title: Investigation of Mnesic Capacities in Patients With a Disorder of Consciousness - MemoDoC

Run by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · NCT06959212 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project tests whether brain (hdEEG) and heart (ECG) signals can reveal new memory formation in ICU patients with disorders of consciousness.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages15 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment175 (estimated)
SponsorAssistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Paris and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 30, 2025
Main results expectedAugust 30, 2030
Study endsAugust 30, 2030
Registry record updatedApril 13, 2026
Trial IDNCT06959212 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal participants are ICU patients aged over 15 with a diagnosed disorder of consciousness (e.g., UWS or MCS), or patients who were unconscious for at least three days and later regain capacity, with consent provided by the patient or a legal proxy.

Probably not a fit

Patients under deep sedation, with prior severe neurodegenerative disease, with deafness, or not treated at the participating ICUs are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

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

What this trial studies

The study uses bedside high-density EEG and ECG with two auditory protocols to probe perceptual, episodic, and autobiographical memory processes in ICU patients who have a disorder of consciousness. It targets both encoding (memory formation during the DoC) and retrieval (memory reported after recovery) and compares physiological markers during unconscious periods with subjective reports after patients regain consciousness. Participants include non-communicating DoC patients, conscious ICU controls, and patients who recovered consciousness, with data supplemented by semi-structured interviews and psychological scales. The aim is to produce a nuanced profile of memory capacities across types and time windows.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the methods could reveal hidden memories and help improve prognosis and care decisions for patients with impaired awareness.

How similar studies have gone: Previous EEG and neuroimaging work has revealed covert cognition in some DoC patients, but applying hdEEG/ECG auditory protocols specifically to detect memory formation during unconsciousness remains largely exploratory.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria

Patients suffering from a Disorder of Consciousness:

* Patient not conscious according to the CRS-R scale (Kalmar \& Giacino, 2005)
* Age over 15 years and 3 months
* Free and informed consent signed by a third party (parental authority, trusted support person)

Conscious patients (controls) :

* Age over 15 years and 3 months
* Cared for in an Intensive Care Unit
* Free and informed consent signature

Patients who have regained consciousness after having suffered from a Disorder of Consciousness (if not included during their disorder):

* Age over 15 years and 3 months
* Free and informed consent signature if able, otherwise signature of relative (holders of parental authority for minors)
* Patient who has been unconscious for at least 3 days according to the CRS-R scale Exclusion criteria: - Deep sedation (Intracranial hypertension, refractory status epilepticus)
* Previous severe neurodegenerative disease (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia)
* Deafness
* Patients under guardianship or trusteeship
* Pregnant and breast-feeding women

Where it's running

  • APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, NeuroSurgery ICU
    Paris, France
    Recruiting
  • APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Neurology, Neuro-ICU
    Paris, France
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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.