Mapping of Human Cognition in Epilepsy and Brain Tumor Patients

This study aims to understand how the brain organizes normal functions, especially language, in people with epilepsy or brain tumors. Researchers will use language-based tasks while recording brain activity or delivering small electrical stimulations to specific brain areas. This helps them map out which parts of the brain are essential for these functions. You may be able to join if you are 18-75 years old and have medically refractory epilepsy (epilepsy that doesn't respond well to medicine) and have had or will have electrodes placed in your brain, or if you have epilepsy, brain tumors, or certain blood vessel problems in the brain. The study will measure changes in reading errors and reaction times during these tasks. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design: This interventional study plans to enroll 75 participants. It compares brain function in healthy individuals to those with epilepsy or brain tumors.
What's involved: You will perform various language-based tasks in an MRI suite, Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, or operating room. During these tasks, neural recordings will be made, and/or neural stimulations will be delivered to your brain.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Changes in reading errors and reaction times are measured at baseline and about 2 seconds after stimulation.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

Mapping of Human Cognition

Recruiting

NAAges 18–75InterventionalBasic science

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

~75 participants

Updated 2026-07-14 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Language-based tasks

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Change in reading errors as assessed by the number of words read incorrectly

Measured over Baseline, during stimulation( about 2 seconds after baseline )

+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Epilepsy

Brain Tumor

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Texas1

Study leadership

Nitin Tandon, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Who to contact

Nitin Tandon, MD

[email protected]

713-500-5456

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

patients with medically refractory epilepsy who are scheduled to undergo or have previously undergone placement of sub-dural electrodes (including depth electrodes) to localize the site of seizure onset and to map the locations of critical language and motor regions

patients with epilepsy, brain tumors or cortically based vascular malformations (cavernous malformations or arterio-venous malformations) with lesions that are/were proximate to crucial brain regions, and who are scheduled to undergo or have previously undergone intra-op mapping of motor, visual or language function, or a Wada test, or maybe part of an awake craniotomy.

proficiency in English

Exclusion

Gross structural abnormalities (large hamartomata, tumors, large vascular malformations, very large diffuse malformations of cortical development) that may have impacted upon the location of critical brain areas.

Unable to participate in testing due to impaired cognition or mental retardation.

Cardiac pacemakers, intracranial aneurysm clips, or other potentially mobile implanted metallic devices

Patients with claustrophobia who cannot undergo an MRI scan without sedation

What this trial measures

Change in reading errors as assessed by the number of words read incorrectlyBaseline, during stimulation( about 2 seconds after baseline )
Change in reaction times in millisecondsBaseline, during stimulation( about 2 seconds after baseline )
reaction time is the time it takes to say the word after seeing it

Trialytics