Brain surgery patients help scientists decode the sense of smell

NCT ID NCT07386236

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study looks at how the brain recognizes different smells. Researchers will record brain activity from epilepsy patients who are already undergoing brain surgery. Participants will smell various odors and rate what they perceive. The goal is to find patterns in brain signals that correspond to odor identity, which could improve our understanding of the olfactory system.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to

If successful, this could reveal how the brain processes smells, potentially aiding future treatments for smell disorders.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-stage observational study with only 28 participants. It is not testing any treatment, so direct medical benefits are unlikely.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Northwestern University

    RECRUITING

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••