Causal Role of Top-Down Theta Oscillations in Prioritization

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-07-01

Study Completion Date

2026-01-31

Brief Summary

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Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study is to investigate the dynamics between theta and alpha oscillations in the control of working memory. These findings will be informative of what types of brain stimulation are most effective at modulating brain activity. Deep brain stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation are used for an increasing number of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Participants: Eligible participants are patients who have previously had electrodes implanted to monitor epilepsy (outside of research activity). 50 participants will be recruited, 25 participants for each phase of the study. Procedures (methods): The participants will perform a cognitive control task. During the task, rhythmic trains of direct cortical stimulation will be delivered to the frontal cortex alone or to the frontal and parietal cortex. Electrocorticography will be collected concurrent with stimulation.

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Detailed Description

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The aim of this study is to investigate the causal role of functional interactions between frontal-theta dependent selection processes and posterior-alpha dependent suppression processes in the context of cognitive control by targeting theta and alpha oscillations in frontal and parietal cortex separately in phase one of the experiment. Theta and alpha oscillations are hypothesized to play complementary roles such that theta oscillations are excitatory (related to active processing) whereas alpha oscillations are inhibitory (related to suppression of processing).

Thus, the investigators hypothesize that rhythmic brain stimulation can be used to drive activity in opposite directions. In the second phase of the experiment the investigators target functional connectivity between these regions. In particular, theta oscillations are hypothesized to play a critical role in orchestrating the prioritization and suppression of information across the cerebral cortex. Thus, the investigators hypothesize that in-phase theta frequency connectivity will be causally related to working memory success, but alpha frequency connectivity will be inconsequential and anti-phase theta connectivity will be detrimental. Together these findings suggest an overall model by which the amplitude of theta oscillations in prefrontal and the amplitude of alpha oscillations in parietal play a causal role in prioritization and suppression respectively, but functional connectivity between frontal and parietal cortex within the theta frequency band alone is critical to these cognitive processes. This experiment is of critical importance to the design of future interventions that use brain stimulation for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders. For example, the use of frequency specific brain stimulation is key to controlling the impact of brain stimulation on neural activity. Design considerations like this one might be fundamental to improving the efficacy of future interventions such as the use of deep brain stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and for the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

Conditions

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Working Memory Epilepsy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Frontal Stimulation

Direct Cortical Stimulation (DCS) in alpha and theta frequencies is applied through electrodes located in the frontal cortex.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Direct cortical stimulation (DCS) Alpha

Intervention Type DEVICE

Rhythmic alpha stimulation

Direct cortical stimulation (DCS) Theta

Intervention Type DEVICE

Rhythmic theta stimulation applied

Sham Direct cortical stimulation (DCS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Arrhythmic stimulation paradigm applied

Frontal Parietal Stimulation

Direct Cortical Stimulation (DCS) in in-phase and anti-phase theta frequencies is applied through electrodes located in the frontal and parietal cortex.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Direct cortical stimulation (DCS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Arrhythmic stimulation paradigm applied

Direct cortical stimulation (DCS) In-Phase Theta

Intervention Type DEVICE

Rhythmic in-phase theta stimulation applied

Direct cortical stimulation (DCS) Anti-Phase Theta

Intervention Type DEVICE

Rhythmic anti-phase theta stimulation applied

Interventions

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Direct cortical stimulation (DCS) Alpha

Rhythmic alpha stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Direct cortical stimulation (DCS) Theta

Rhythmic theta stimulation applied

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham Direct cortical stimulation (DCS)

Arrhythmic stimulation paradigm applied

Intervention Type DEVICE

Direct cortical stimulation (DCS) In-Phase Theta

Rhythmic in-phase theta stimulation applied

Intervention Type DEVICE

Direct cortical stimulation (DCS) Anti-Phase Theta

Rhythmic anti-phase theta stimulation applied

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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CereStim M96 CereStim M96 CereStim M96 CereStim M96 CereStim M96

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Able to provide informed consent
* History of medically intractable epilepsy
* Speak and understand English
* For the stimulation session, the participant must have electrodes in the relevant locations

Exclusion Criteria

* Current diagnosis of other neurological illnesses including ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, brain neoplasm
* Major systemic illness
* Severe cognitive impairment - diagnosed by clinician in neuropsychiatric evaluation
* Severe psychiatric illness
* Excessive use of alcohol or other substances
* Anything that, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the participant at increased risk or preclude the participant's full compliance with or completion of the study

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No