Localization of the Reward Positivity to ACC

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, GHENT · Dec 21, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and its role in how we make decisions based on rewards. Researchers believe that the ACC helps us choose tasks that are important to us by assigning value to them and controlling how our brain executes those tasks. They want to find out if a specific brain signal, known as "reward positivity," is generated from the ACC. To do this, they will ask patients with refractory epilepsy (a type of epilepsy that doesn't respond to treatment) to complete a virtual task while recording their brain activity.

To participate in this study, you need to be at least 18 years old, have refractory epilepsy, and be scheduled for a hospital stay to have a special type of brain recording done. It’s important that you can give informed consent and that you have imaging results available after the electrodes are placed in your brain. However, those with severe cognitive issues, dementia, or active substance abuse are not eligible for the study. Participants can expect to engage in a task while their brain activity is monitored, helping researchers learn more about the ACC and its function. This study is currently recruiting participants.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 18 years or older
• • Patients with refractory epilepsy
• • Planned hospitalization at CNM for invasive video-EEG recording with subdural, epidural and/or depth electrodes
• • Patients have to be able to give informed consent themselves
• • Imaging after placement of electrodes (CT and/or MRI) has to be available
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients known with dementia or severe cognitive and/or psychiatric disorders that makes it impossible for patients to participate in this study
• • Active alcohol and/or drug abuse