Brain stimulation tailored to your brain waves could treat depression

NCT ID NCT05327387

Recruiting now Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University of Southern California Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study explores whether electrical brain stimulation can be personalized using a patient's own brain activity. Researchers will work with 25 epilepsy patients who already have electrodes implanted for medical monitoring. They aim to develop a system that tracks depression symptoms from neural signals and adjusts stimulation accordingly, potentially offering a new way to treat depression that doesn't respond to standard treatments.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: electrical brain stimulation
What this could lead to: If successful, this could lead to a personalized brain stimulation therapy for depression that adapts to each patient's neural signals.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small proof-of-concept study in epilepsy patients, not depression patients. The approach may not work in real-world settings or for other conditions.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

brain neoplasm Depression

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MEDICATION REFRACTORY EPILEPSY PATIENTS WITH ELECTRODES ALREADY IMPLANTED BASED ON CLINICAL CRITERIA FOR STANDARD MONITORING

Contacts and locations

Locations

University of California, San Francisco
RECRUITING

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States
University of Southern California
RECRUITING

Los Angeles, California, 90089, United States

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