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NCT Number: NCT07224191

Hippocampal Oscillations During Exploration

The objective of this study is to determine how visuomotor exploration relates to hippocampal activity along its long axis. The study will investigate the neurophysiological mechanisms in the hippocampus during (1) visual exploration in surgical patients using high-resolution iEEG, and (2) ambulatory exploration in patients implanted with RNS devices.

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Key information

Conditions

Epilepsy Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

NYU Langone Health

New York, 10016, United States

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

Aim 1 - Visual Exploration in Surgical Patients Investigators will study 20 surgical patients with high-resolution intracranial EEG (iEEG) to investigate hippocampal activity during visual exploration. Participants will view between 10-15 panoramic environments using Meta Quest AR/VR glasses while their eye movements and head turns are tracked. Eye-tracking, head-turn, and iEEG data will be synchronized with visual stimuli, and intracranial EEG and single-unit data will be analyzed for changes in neuronal firing and brain activity before and after saccades.

Aim 2 - Ambulatory Exploration in RNS Patients and Healthy Controls Investigators will study 12 epilepsy patients with implanted responsive neurostimulator (RNS) devices and 24 healthy controls (HCs) during real-world exploration. Participants will walk through and explore visually distinct rooms while wearing synchronized high-density EEG (hdEEG), eye-tracking glasses, and body position sensors. Data from hippocampal iEEG, hdEEG, eye tracking, and motion sensors will be synchronized offline to examine brain-behavior relationships and the influence of cognitive load on saccade-hippocampal interactions.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

All subjects:

  • Adults (18-70 years)
  • Able to provide informed consent

Aim 1: Surgical epilepsy patients' inclusion criteria

  • Implanted hippocampal depth electrodes for Stage 1 epilepsy surgery
  • MMSE>=24

Aim 2: RNS patients Inclusion criteria

  • Implanted RNS device with at least one hippocampal depth electrode
  • At least 5 months post-implantation to avoid the post-implant effect
  • Have a relatively low number of seizures, defined as <1 generalized tonic-clonic or other seizure with potential to fall or cause injury per month
  • Able to walk and wear research equipment without assistance
  • MMSE>=24

Aim 2: Healthy Control Inclusion criteria • Able to walk and wear research equipment without assistance

Exclusion criteria

RNS patients, Aim 2:

  • Any generalized tonic-clonic seizure within the last week

All subjects:

  • Legally blind
  • Smoking tobacco, marijuana, recreational drugs or alcohol use within 1 week of cognitive testing
  • Unable to give informed consent
  • Pregnancy

Treatment and study plan

Visual Exploration

Other

Cognitive testing while admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit (number of sessions will vary depending on patient availability and stamina).

Ambulatory Exploration

Other

Series of cognitive tasks completed during a study visit.

Primary outcomes

  1. Hippocampal Theta Power Under High Cognitive Loads

    Time frame: Study Visit (Day 1)

    Aims 1 and 2. High cognitive loads defined as visual exploration of a complex scene with goal-driven task.

  2. Hippocampal Theta Power Under Medium Cognitive Loads

    Time frame: Study Visit (Day 1)

    Aims 1 and 2. Medium cognitive loads defined as visual exploration of a simpler scene with fewer objects.

  3. Hippocampal Theta Power Under Low Cognitive Loads

    Time frame: Study Visit (Day 1)

    Aims 1 and 2. Low cognitive loads defined as visual exploration of moving dots.

  4. Hippocampal Theta Power Under No Cognitive Loads

    Time frame: Study Visit (Day 1)

    Aims 1 and 2. Low cognitive loads defined as staring at a blank field of view or REM sleep.

  5. Coherence Time-Locked to the Saccade Under High Cognitive Loads

    Time frame: Study Visit (Day 1)

    Aims 1 and 2. High cognitive loads defined as visual exploration of a complex scene with goal-driven task.

  6. Coherence Time-Locked to the Saccade Under Medium Cognitive Loads

    Time frame: Study Visit (Day 1)

    Aims 1 and 2. Medium cognitive loads defined as visual exploration of a simpler scene with fewer objects.

  7. Coherence Time-Locked to the Saccade Under Low Cognitive Loads

    Time frame: Study Visit (Day 1)

    Aims 1 and 2. Low cognitive loads defined as staring at a blank field of view or REM sleep.

  8. Coherence Time-Locked to the Saccade Under No Cognitive Loads

    Time frame: Study Visit (Day 1)

    Aims 1 and 2. Low cognitive loads defined as staring at a blank field of view or REM sleep.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Anli Liu, MD, MA

CONTACT

[email protected]

(929) 455-2323

Ayelet Rosenberg

CONTACT

[email protected]

(646) 558-0893

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Registry information

Official study title

Human Hippocampal Oscillations During Visuomotor Exploration

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Nov 4, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 8, 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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