Recruiting

Neural Activity

Sponsor:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Code:

NCT07617506

Conditions

Memory Disorders

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Neurocognitive Tasks

Ripple Neuromed Summit System

Study Details

Brief summary:

This ClinicalTrials.gov entry corresponds to the Neural Basis of Human Working Memory protocol approved under Vanderbilt University Medical Center IRB #251231.

This study investigates the neural activity underlying human working memory, via local field potential changes (macro level) and/or single neuronal spiking changes (micro level) from depth electrodes placed for invasive seizure monitoring. Subjects will complete neurocognitive tasks while neural recordings are collected. Some patients will complete neurocognitive tasks while stimulation is applied via depth electrodes. Further understanding the neural activity changes underlying normal and impaired working memory may help to identify novel diagnostic methods and treatments for impaired working memory and may support the use of stimulation for treatment of memory disorders.

Conditions

Memory Disorders

Study ID

NCT07617506

Start date

Jun 4, 2025

Status verified date

Jun, 2026

Completion date

Apr, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Apr, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Undergoing SEEG monitoring at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Age >18
  • English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Age <18
  • Not able to complete questionnaires (unable to comprehend instructions or follow directions)

Study Design

Enrollment

100 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

other: Epilepsy patients

All participants will be patients with medically refractory epilepsy who have undergone depth electrode placement for stereo EEG monitoring for seizure localization. Participants will complete working memory tasks and EEG recordings will be concurrently collected from their depth electrodes. Some subjects will undergo macro-micro electrode implantation as a part of their SEEG implantation procedure for the purpose of EEG macro (local activity) and micro (single-unit) recordings. Some subjects will complete working memory tasks with stimulation applied during task completion.

Interventions

Neurocognitive Tasks

Participants complete computerized neurocognitive tasks assessing working memory, response inhibition, decision-making, reward processing, and other related cognitive functions during sEEG monitoring. Tasks may include the stop signal reaction time task, the n-back working memory task, the delayed response task, the match/nonmatch task, the gambling task, the card guessing task, and the emotional stop signal reaction time task. Intracranial neural activity is recorded during task performance, and select tasks may include research electrical stimulation delivered through the implanted sEEG electrodes.

Ripple Neuromed Summit System

Neurophysiology system designed to allow recording of neural signals as well as delivery of neural stimulation. The system is a portable unit which is connected to cables connected to the clinical electrodes. Neurophysiology signals from the electrodes can be recorded, amplified, and processed by the unit. The unit also has the ability to deliver electrical stimulation through the electrodes according to programmed parameters.

Primary outcome measure

  • Local field potential changes in response to working memory tasks [ Time Frame: During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes ]
  • Single unit neuronal spiking changes in response to memory tasks [ Time Frame: During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes ]
  • Behavioral performance changes with stimulation [ Time Frame: During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Lucas Chang, BS

615-421-3046lucas.m.chang@vumc.org

Christos Constantinidis, PhD

+1 (615) 936-2020christos.constantinidis.1@Vanderbilt.Edu

Locations

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Recruiting

Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232

Contacts

Lucas Chang, BA

615-421-3046lucas.m.chang@vumc.org

Christos Constantinidis, PhD

(615) 936 - 2020christos.constantinidis.1@Vanderbilt.Edu

More Information

Sponsor

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Last update posted

Aug 24, 2026

Last verified

Jun, 2026

Keywords

  • Neural stimulation
  • Memory disorders
  • Working Memory
  • Stereo Electroencephalography (SEEG)

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Vanderbilt University Medical Center on 2026-08-24.