Understanding Brain Activity for Spatial Navigation in Epilepsy Patients
This study is exploring how the brain creates and uses 'maps' of space, which is important for understanding conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are studying people with intractable epilepsy (seizures that are hard to control) who already have special electrodes placed in their brains for their epilepsy treatment. You would participate in two behavioral tasks: a 'self-navigation task' where you walk towards a sign or find a hidden spot, and an 'observation task' where you watch someone else move around. The study aims to measure brain activity (oscillatory power, amplitude, and frequency) during these tasks. To join, you must be between 18 and 70 years old, have good vision and hearing, and already have these brain electrodes for epilepsy evaluation or treatment. The study is enrolling 60 participants.
- Study design
- This is an interventional study involving 60 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
- What's involved
- You would perform a self-navigation task and an observation task. Brain activity will be measured continuously during these tasks for up to 14 days.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Brain activity measurements will occur continuously during task performance on day 1 and all subsequent measurement days (up to 14 days per participant).
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Neural Mechanisms of Spatial Representations Beyond the Self
At a glance
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesStudy leadership
- Matthias Stangl, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Boston University
Who to contact
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Do you actually qualify for this trial?
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Inclusion
Exclusion
What this trial measures
- Oscillatory powerContinuous measurement during task performance on day 1 and all subsequent measurement days (up to 14 days per participant)
It will be measured how the oscillatory power (measurement unit: microvolts-squared) of electrophysiological brain activity, as measured via intracranially implanted electrodes and an electroencephalography recording system, is modulated by task-related behavioral variables (such as the individual's spatial location, head direction, movement speed, or their distance/direction to environmental boundaries).
- Oscillatory amplitudeContinuous measurement during task performance on day 1 and all subsequent measurement days (up to 14 days per participant)
It will be measured how the oscillatory amplitude (measurement unit: microvolts) of electrophysiological brain activity, as measured via intracranially implanted electrodes and an electroencephalography recording system, is modulated by task-related behavioral variables (such as the individual's spatial location, head direction, movement speed, or their distance/direction to environmental boundaries).
- Oscillatory frequencyContinuous measurement during task performance on day 1 and all subsequent measurement days (up to 14 days per participant)
It will be measured how the frequency of an oscillation (measurement unit: Hertz), as measured via intracranially implanted electrodes and an electroencephalography recording system, is modulated by task-related behavioral variables (such as the individual's spatial location, head direction, movement speed, or their distance/direction to environmental boundaries).
- Firing rate of single neuronsContinuous measurement during task performance on day 1 and all subsequent measurement days (up to 14 days per participant)
It will be measured how the firing rate of single neurons (measurement unit: Hertz), as measured via intracranially implanted micro-electrodes and an electrophysiology recording system, is modulated by task-related behavioral variables (such as the individual's spatial location, head direction, movement speed, or their distance/direction to environmental boundaries).