Scientists zap brains to unlock secrets of memory and navigation
NCT ID NCT04874220
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study uses deep brain stimulation and recordings to understand how the brain navigates real and virtual spaces. Seventy participants with implanted RNS systems will perform memory tasks in VR, AR, and real-world settings. The goal is to link brain activity, body movements, and memory performance to improve future treatments for memory disorders.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Deep brain stimulation
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could reveal how deep brain stimulation improves memory and navigation, pointing toward future treatments for memory loss.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage observational study with only 70 participants. It is designed to understand brain activity, not to test a treatment, so direct benefits are uncertain.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Duke University
RECRUITINGDurham, North Carolina, 27705, United States
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University of California, Los Angeles
RECRUITINGLos Angeles, California, 90024, United States
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