Scientists probe Hippocampus' role in directing eyes to build memories

NCT ID NCT05945628

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing This study
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 07, 2026 · Last updated Jul 08, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study investigates how the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory, helps guide eye movements to form lasting memories. Researchers will record brain activity directly from the hippocampus in people with epilepsy who are already undergoing brain surgery, while they perform memory tasks. By also using mild electrical stimulation, the team aims to understand whether the hippocampus actively directs visual attention to create coherent memories. The findings could shed light on memory problems in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

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 research could reveal how memory formation goes wrong in conditions like Alzheimer's or PTSD, pointing toward new therapies.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage observational study in people with epilepsy, so findings may not apply to the general population. Direct clinical benefits are not guaranteed.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 66 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Jan 2023

Expected to finish

Jun 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 45 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18+ years old * Native English speakers. * Normal or corrected-to-normal near and far vision.

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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

  • Northwestern Memorial Hospital

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

  • University of Chicago Medical Center

    Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States

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