Understanding how the brain processes emotions and social connection

Plain-English translation of NCT05418894 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated October 2025 ·

What is this trial?

Researchers want to understand exactly how different parts of your brain work together when you experience emotions and interact socially. By studying people who already have electrodes placed in their brain for medical treatment, they can record brain signals with high precision while you complete tasks and answer questions about your feelings. This knowledge could help develop better treatments for depression, epilepsy, and other conditions affecting mood and social connection.

Many people with severe depression don't respond well to standard treatments, and doctors don't fully understand the brain circuits involved in emotion and social processing. By mapping these circuits at a detailed level, researchers hope to discover new ways to help people whose depression or emotional difficulties haven't improved with current medications and therapies.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 22 and 70 years old
you have been diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression (you've tried at least 4 different antidepressant medications without sufficient improvement)
your depression has lasted at least 24 months or you've had at least 2 major depressive episodes in your lifetime
you have moderate to severe depression symptoms as measured by standard rating scales
you have a normal brain MRI within 3 months of joining the study
you have a family member, partner, or caregiver who can attend your screening visit

You likely don't qualify if…

you are pregnant
you have changed your antidepressant medications in the month before planned surgery
you have a medical condition that would make it unsafe or difficult to participate for 12 months
you have not had at least 6 weeks of therapy in the past
you have active psychotic symptoms or severe cognitive decline

What participation looks like

If you qualify, you will be admitted to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit in the hospital where electrodes are placed in your brain (either as part of planned epilepsy surgery or a specialized depression treatment procedure). While there, researchers will ask you to complete computer-based tasks and answer questionnaires about your emotions and social interactions while they record your brain activity. You'll be followed by a psychiatrist with regular clinic visits for at least 12 months after your hospital stay to monitor your symptoms and well-being.

Understanding how the brain processes emotions and social connection

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)