Neural Correlates of Psychiatric Disorders

June 10, 2026 updated by: Sarah Bick, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Neural Correlates of Neuropsychiatric Functions

This ClincialTrials.gov record originally corresponded to the protocol approved under IRB # 202370. The study was expanded to include stimulation and recordings approved under new IRB #211037. The participant data originally acquired from IRB# 202370 will be included in this new record:

This study seeks to better understand the neural activity underlying neuro cognitive disorders. Resting state local field potential recordings will be collected from medically refractory epilepsy patients implanted with depth electrodes for seizure localization, and metrics of neural activity will be correlated with psychiatric symptoms as measured from questionnaires. Subjects will also participate in neuro cognitive tasks while neural recordings are performed, and/or receive neural stimulation through implanted depth electrodes. A better understanding of disordered neural activity underlying neuropsychiatric disorders may additionally contribute to novel methods for diagnosing, treating, and preventing these diseases.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

    • Tennessee
      • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232
        • Recruiting
        • Vanderbilt University Medical Center
        • Contact:
          • Sarah Bick, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with medically refractory epilepsy who have undergone depth electrode placement for localization of their refractory seizures.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Undergoing SEEG monitoring at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • At least 18 years of age
  • English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Age <18
  • Not able to complete questionnaires (e.g., unable to comprehend instructions or follow directions)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Epilepsy patients
All participants will be patients with medically refractory epilepsy undergoing depth electrode placement for seizure localization. For this study, participants will complete psychiatric questionnaires measuring depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and impulsivity, and EEG recordings will be collected from the depth electrodes while subjects rest quietly. Some subjects will also participate in neuro cognitive tasks while neural recordings/stimulation are performed. Some subjects will also undergo macro-micro electrode implantation as a part of their SEEG implantation procedure for the purpose of EEG macro (local activity) and micro (single-unit) recordings.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neural activity correlating with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale - Revised (CESD-R)
Time Frame: During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes
The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale - Revised (CESD-R) is a commonly used and well validated depression screening tool consisting of 20 questions. Scores range from 0 to 60 and a score of 16 or above indicates a risk for clinical depression. CESD-R scores will be correlated with resting state measures of neural activity and connectivity
During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes
Neural activity correlating with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
Time Frame: During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is a validated anxiety scale that screens for current anxiety state and chronic anxiety trait. It consists of 40 questions with scores ranging from 20 to 80. A score of 40 or above indicates risk of anxiety. STAI scores will be correlated with resting state measures of neural activity and connectivity
During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes
Neural activity correlating with the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)
Time Frame: During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes
The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) is the most commonly used and well validated measure of obsessive compulsive features. It consists of 10 questions with scores ranging from 0 to 40. A score of 8-15 indicates mild OCD, 16-23 indicates moderate OCD, 24-31 indicates severe OCD and 32-40 indicates extreme OCD. YBOCS scores will be correlated with resting state measures of neural activity and connectivity
During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes
Neural activity correlating with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS11)
Time Frame: During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes
The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS11) is a well validated measure of impulsive traits that consists of 30 questions. The scores of the BIS11 range from 30 to 120 with scores above 72 indicating high levels of impulsivity. BIS11 scores will be correlated with resting state measures of neural activity and connectivity
During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes
Local field potential changes in response to study tasks
Time Frame: During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes
These local field potential changes are neural recordings in response to the stop signal tasks and n back tasks. In the stop signal reaction time task the subject will see a visual stimulus and be asked to press a button to respond. On some trials an auditory stimulus will also be presented which will indicate that the subject should not press the response button (they should suppress their response). In the n-back verbal working memory task the subject will see a series of words presented sequentially on a screen. During each word presentation the subject will press a button to indicate whether or not the word matches that presented n trials prior
During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes
Behavioral performance changes with stimulation
Time Frame: During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes
Stimulation will occur during the stop signal task and n back task. In the stop signal reaction time task the subject will see a visual stimulus and be asked to press a button to respond. On some trials an auditory stimulus will also be presented which will indicate that the subject should not press the response button (they should suppress their response). In the n-back verbal working memory task the subject will see a series of words presented sequentially on a screen. During each word presentation the subject will press a button to indicate whether or not the word matches that presented n trials prior. Stimulation will be delivered through pre-selected SEEG electrodes via the Ripple Neuromed Summit system. Test stimulation will be performed prior to stimulation during the task to test for safety and tolerability, with the patient monitored for symptoms by a neurosurgeon or neurologist.
During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes
Single unit neuronal spiking changes in response to study tasks
Time Frame: During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes
Single neuron (single unit) spiking activity is recorded through SEEG micro neural recordings in response to patients completing neuro cognitive tasks.
During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sarah Bick, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 31, 2021

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 14, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 25, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

January 26, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 10, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 211037
  • 251231 (Vanderbilt University Medical Center IRB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Memory Disorders

Search Similar Trials