Brain electrodes link facial cues to mood in depression
NCT ID NCT06159595
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This completed Stanford study looked at whether video-recorded facial expressions and speech patterns can reflect a person's mood. Eleven adults with depression or epilepsy had electrodes temporarily placed in their brains to record brain activity. Researchers stimulated certain brain areas and measured changes in both facial behaviors and self-reported mood, aiming to find objective mood markers.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- intracranial electrodes
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a new way to measure mood continuously and objectively using video, helping improve mental health treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early-stage study with only 11 participants. It is exploratory and may not produce clear or generalizable results.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Stanford University
Stanford, California, 94305, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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