Brain Stimulation for Epilepsy and Mental Health
This study aims to understand how emotion processing works in the brain, especially in people with epilepsy and mental health conditions. Researchers will use Electrical Pulse Train Stimulation, a procedure where mild electrical pulses are delivered through implanted electrodes (sEEG) in your brain. This helps them see how different brain areas affect your emotions and thinking. They are looking for people aged 18 and older who have sEEG electrodes implanted for epilepsy surgery evaluation, specifically in the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex. The study will measure how brain connections change and how they relate to anxiety symptoms and responses to threats, with measurements taken at 20 minutes. The goal is to learn more about how brain circuits are involved in emotional problems, which could lead to new treatments in the future.
- Study design
- This interventional study plans to enroll 30 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
- What's involved
- You would perform simple cognitive tasks and receive mild electrical stimulations through your implanted sEEG electrodes during pre- and post-test periods.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- The primary measurements for brain connectivity and emotional responses are taken at 20 minutes.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Stimulation-Induced Changes in Fronto-Limbic Network
At a glance
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesStudy leadership
- Adam Goodman, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Alabama at Birmingham
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Do you actually qualify for this trial?
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Inclusion
Exclusion
What this trial measures
- Fronto-limbic connectivity and autonomic or expectation responses20 Minutes
We will test for a positive linear relationship (Pearson r correlation test) between dmPFC to amygdala connectivity values (Granger causality coefficient; sEEG) and physiologic (Skin conductance beta estimates; finger electrodes) and cognitive (self-report; expectancy) threat regulation measures.
- Fronto-limbic connectivity strength relation to anxiety symptom severity by conducting between-subjects group-level comparisons20 Minutes
We will test for a positive linear relationship (Pearson r test) between dmPFC to amygdala effective connectivity values (Granger causality coefficient; sEEG) and measures of anxiety symptom severity (Self-report; Beck Anxiety Inventory \[BAI\])
- Anticipatory fronto-limbic connectivity exerting a causal effect on regulation of predictable threat responses using within-subjects group-level comparisons.20 Minutes
We will test for an effect of stimulation pulse trains (2-sec; sEEG) delivered to the dmPFC by using four (Pre-acquisition stimulation, Pre-acquisition sham, Post-acquisition stimulation, Post-acquisition sham) repeated samples t-tests comparing the factor of Condition (Cue+Threat vs Threat-Alone) on amygdala responses (gamma band power changes; sEEG).