Plain-English translation of NCT05854160 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Epilepsy research guide →This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
Researchers want to understand why people with epilepsy often struggle with anxiety and depression, and how brain circuits that control emotions might be disrupted. This study uses a safe brain imaging technique called stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG)—which involves electrodes already placed in your brain as part of standard epilepsy surgery planning—to deliver gentle electrical stimulation while you perform simple tasks. By measuring how your brain responds, researchers hope to find new ways to treat both epilepsy and mood disorders together.
About half of people with epilepsy experience anxiety or depression, but doctors don't fully understand why these conditions often occur together or how to treat them both effectively. This research aims to map the brain circuits involved in emotion control so that future treatments can be better targeted.
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If you qualify, you will be part of a small pilot study (about 30 participants total) conducted while you are already in the hospital for epilepsy monitoring. Researchers will deliver brief electrical stimulation to specific brain regions and ask you to perform simple rating tasks on a computer—for example, indicating how confident you are that a certain sound will occur. The stimulation itself is not painful, and the tasks take only a short time. All of this happens as an add-on to your standard clinical care.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 1, 2026 · Not medical advice
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