Tiny electric jolts to the brain: a new way to understand epilepsy?
NCT ID NCT05250713
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at how weak electric currents applied to the scalp can change brain activity in people with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Researchers used special brain recordings to measure spikes and connections between brain regions during and right after stimulation. The goal was to understand how these currents work, not to treat the condition. Twelve adults took part in this observational study.
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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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12 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2022
- Finished
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Sep 2023
- 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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18 years and older
- 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: 1. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form 2. Male or female, aged ≥ 18 years old 3. Focal drug-resistant epilepsy 4. Patient undergoing a clinical SEEG investigation 5. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study 6. Patient affiliated or beneficiary of a health insurance plan 7. Patient for whom MRI images (3D T1) are exploitable and fit with the minimum MRI requirements needed for biophysical modelling (cf annex in 14.), prior to SEEG electrodes implantation 8. Patient for whom a CT-scan with electrodes (or MRI with electrodes) has been realized after SEEG procedure. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Difficulty to read or understand the French language, or inability to understand the information regarding the study 2. Person protected by articles L1121-5, L1121-6 and L1121-8 of Public Health Code (pregnant or breastfeeding woman, deprived of liberty by judicial decision, situations of social fragility, adults or unable to express their consent). Pregnancy will be evaluated during screening with a urine pregnancy test. 3. Presence of severe negative outcome of SEEG surgery preventing the acquisition of SEEG data (i.e. hemorragic complications, subcutaneous infection), at the time of inclusion. 4. Patient showing contraindications for electric stimulation at the time of inclusion: (A) Patient with unstable or non-controlled neuropsychiatric illness (B) Patients having cardiac or medication implants (C) Patients with implanted pacemakers (D) Patients with serious brain injury (E) Patients showing damage of skin at sites of stimulation 5. Any condition that, according to the investigator, is not compatible with carrying out the study
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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
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Service Epileptologie et Rythmologie Cérébrale
Marseille, 13005, France
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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