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NCT Number: NCT07764718

Temporal Interference Brain Stimulation for Adults With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Undergoing Stereo-EEG Monitoring

This study evaluates whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called Temporal Interference (TI) can reduce epilepsy-related abnormal brain activity and influence sleep-related brain rhythms in adults with focal drug-resistant epilepsy undergoing stereo-EEG monitoring for clinical care. Up to 30 participants will complete stimulation sessions during wakefulness and, when possible, natural non-REM sleep. Brain activity will be recorded using scalp EEG and implanted sEEG electrodes before, during, and after TI stimulation. Some participants may also receive subthreshold direct stimulation through implanted electrodes for comparison. The study aims to determine whether TI can reduce epilepsy biomarkers, alter sleep-related brain activity, and compare favorably with conventional direct electrical stimulation while remaining within established safety limits.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adult patients with focal DRE who will undergo presurgical evaluation with sEEG
  • Availability of at least one sEEG electrode inserted into the thalamus for clinical purposes
  • sEEG performed with the indication to identify one single epileptic focus
  • Ability to provide written informed consent and comply with the study protocol

Exclusion criteria

  • Remote resective/ablative brain surgery

Treatment and study plan

temporal interference stimulation

Device

Non-invasive electrical stimulation delivered through scalp electrodes using paired sinusoidal currents with differential carrier frequencies to create a low-frequency envelope targeting deep brain structures including the epileptic focus or thalamus.

Direct electrical stimulation

Device

Subthreshold biphasic electrical stimulation delivered through implanted stereo-EEG contacts, remaining below thresholds for after-discharges and perceptual sensations.

Primary outcomes

  1. Interictal epileptiform discharge rate

    Time frame: 20-minute baseline, 20-minute stimulation, 20-minute post-stimulation

    The interictal epileptiform discharge (IED) rate per minute is a classical biomarker of epilepsy. It is derived from sEEG macro- and microcontacts.

  2. Single-unit firing rate

    Time frame: 20-minute baseline, 20-minute stimulation, 20-minute post-stimulation

    single unit firing rate is the number of action potentials ("spikes") that an isolated neuron emits per second. It is derived from sEEG microcontacts.

Secondary outcomes

  1. High-frequency oscillations

    Time frame: 20-minute baseline, 20-minute stimulation, 20-minute post-stimulation

    The high-frequency oscillation rate per minute (frequency >80 Hz) is an alternative biomarker of epilepsy. it is derived from sEEG macro- and microcontacts.

  2. local field potential spectral power

    Time frame: 20-minute baseline, 20-minute stimulation, 20-minute post-stimulation

    The power of local field potentials in defined frequency bands (theta: 4-8 Hz, beta: 13-30 Hz, gamma: 30-100 Hz) will be measured from macro- and microcontacts.

  3. Sleep microstructure

    Time frame: 20-minute baseline, 20-minute stimulation, 20-minute post-stimulation

    Sleep microstructure is comprised of sleep spindles (sleep specific transients of 10-16 Hz exceeding 0.5 seconds) and slow oscillations (delta wave transients < 0.5 Hz) measured in scalp EEG and sEEG macrocontacts. Rates are provided per minute

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Duke University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Registry information

Official study title

Temporally Interfering Electric Field Stimulation in the Treatment of Epilepsy - Effect of Temporal Interference on Biomarkers of Epilepsy

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2031
Study completion
2031
First posted
Aug 14, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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