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Evaluation of Direct Effects of Electric Fields on Brain

Quantification of the Immediate Impact of Weak Electric Fields on Brain Activity by SEEG Measurements in Drug-resistant Focal Epilepsy Patients

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05250713
Acronym
GALVANI PS-2
Enrollment
12
Registered
2022-02-22
Start date
2022-04-26
Completion date
2023-09-22
Last updated
2026-05-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Epilepsy

Keywords

tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation), tACS (transcranial alternate current stimulation), Starstim, transcranial stimulation, SEEG (stereoelectroencephalography)

Brief summary

Transcranial current stimulation (tCS), a safe, tolerable technique employing weak currents (\ 1 mA) applied to the scalp, has been shown to be a promising technique in alleviating seizures in focal epilepsy patients. Although studies reveal a decrease in the epileptiform activity due to tCS, this field lacks a quantification of neurophysiological changes during and immediately after stimulation. The investigators hypothesise that tCS can effectively reduce the amplitude and rate of interictal spikes as well as the functional connectivity between regions during and immediately after stimulation. It is thus planned to deliver an extensive quantitative description of the tCS effects on interictal spike activity, functional connectivity and other tissue biomarkers, using the simultaneous recording of intracranial signals during tCS. Moreover, the investigators seek to compare these variations between different tCS paradigms (direct current -tDCS- vs alternate current -tACS- stimulation).

Interventions

Patients will receive either direct current stimulation or alternate stimulation.

Sponsors

Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseille
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

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

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Measure of epileptogenic markers in intracranial brain signals recordingsDuring tDCS or tACSRate and amplitude of interictal epileptogenic spikes
Measure of functional connectivity in intracranial brain signals recordingsDuring tDCS or tACSNeural network excitability

Countries

France

Contacts

STUDY_DIRECTORFrançois CREMIEUX

AP-HM

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 9, 2026