Could watching a movie replace multiple brain scans before surgery?
NCT ID NCT07650994
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compares a new type of brain scan—watching movie clips during functional MRI (fMRI)—to standard task-based fMRI for mapping language areas in people with brain tumors (gliomas). The goal is to see if the simpler movie-watching method works as well or better for helping surgeons plan safe operations. About 90 adults aged 21–70 with known or suspected gliomas will participate, undergoing both types of fMRI and neuropsychological tests.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with naturalistic viewing (movie clips)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could replace multiple task-based fMRI scans with a single movie-watching scan, making presurgical brain mapping faster and easier for patients.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study comparing two imaging methods, not a treatment trial. The movie-watching approach may not prove as accurate as standard tasks for all patients.
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
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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
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About 90 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Sep 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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21 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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: * Any sex, age between 21 to 70 years; * Known or suspected glioma (lesion) of the brain; * English speaking; * Patients with clinical fMRI scheduled (or pending scheduling) for presurgical planning at BWH ordered by a BWH clinician; * Passes prescreening and standard of care screenings for 3 Tesla MRI; * Willing to participate in the additional study scan and neuropsychological assessment visit; * Informed consent form signed by the subject or legally acceptable representative. Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to MRI: Note: MRI screening will be performed by radiology staff as part of their standard process for their clinical scans and if subjects do not pass the screen, MRI will not be performed. * Pregnancy or possible pregnancy: Female participants under 55 (or 45 with menstrual cycle in the past 12 months) who may be pregnant. Per policy: potential subjects will be asked if they are pregnant and excluded if they say yes. If unsure, pregnancy testing will be performed. Any subjects with positive result will be excluded.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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