Rectal balloon test may reveal hidden consciousness
NCT ID NCT07208942
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study explores whether measuring brain activity during a brief rectal balloon inflation can help doctors tell the difference between patients who are minimally conscious and those who are unresponsive. Researchers will record EEGs in 45 patients with disorders of consciousness and healthy volunteers. The goal is to develop an objective test for diagnosing levels of awareness.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Rectal balloon stimulation device
What this could lead to
If successful, this could provide a new, objective way to classify consciousness levels in patients with disorders like unresponsive wakefulness syndrome or minimally conscious state.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study with only 45 participants. The approach is experimental and may not reliably distinguish between patient groups or translate to broader clinical use.
Disclaimer
Read more
Show less
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.
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.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for DISORDERS OF CONSCIOUSNESS are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
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
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Study contacts
-
Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
-
Hangzhou Normal University
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATIONHangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, China
-
The Second People's Hospital of Hefei
RECRUITINGHefei, Anhui, 230000, China
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••