How childhood epilepsy affects memory and learning during sleep

Plain-English translation of NCT03865771 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated December 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

This research study is investigating a suspected link between childhood epilepsy and problems with memory consolidation — the process by which your brain stores and locks in new information while you sleep. Researchers believe that in some children with epilepsy, abnormal brain activity during sleep may interfere with this natural memory-storing process, potentially explaining why some children with epilepsy struggle with learning. The study will compare memory and sleep patterns in children with different types of childhood-onset focal epilepsy against healthy children.

Many children with certain types of childhood epilepsy experience learning difficulties, but it's not yet clear why. This study exists to test whether the epileptic brain activity that happens during sleep is disrupting the brain's ability to consolidate and retain memories — essentially 'erasing' information that was learned during the day.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are a child with normal early development and normal brain imaging
you have been diagnosed with benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes, atypical benign partial epilepsy, or epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike and waves during sleep
you speak French fluently
you are able and willing to stay overnight in a hospital for testing
both your parents have signed informed consent, and you consent if able

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder
you have an uncorrected hearing or vision problem
you have a degenerative disease or abnormal brain imaging
you have intellectual disability or developmental delay
you are a minor currently under protective custody

What participation looks like

You will come to the hospital for a single overnight visit where you'll complete a word-learning memory test, undergo standard neuropsychological testing, and have your brain activity and sleep monitored overnight using EEG (electrodes placed on your scalp) and sleep monitoring equipment. You'll also be asked to keep a brief sleep diary. The next day, you'll repeat the memory test to see how much information your brain retained overnight. Control participants (children without epilepsy) will go through the same testing procedures.

How childhood epilepsy affects memory and learning during sleep

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(2 sites)