40 Participants Needed

Intracranial Monitoring Tasks for Language Disorders

EF
Overseen ByEvelina Fedorenko, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Language is a signature human cognitive skill, but the precise computations that support language understanding remain unknown. This study aims to combine high-quality human neural data obtained through intracranial recordings with advances in computational modeling of human cognition to shed light on the construction and understanding of speech.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Behavioral tasks during intracranial monitoring for language disorders?

Research shows that using advanced language mapping techniques, like computerized platforms during brain surgery, can improve the detection and understanding of language deficits. This suggests that similar behavioral tasks during intracranial monitoring could be effective in identifying and managing language disorders.12345

Is intracranial monitoring for language disorders safe for humans?

The research does not provide specific safety data for intracranial monitoring tasks for language disorders, but a related study on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for language treatment in stroke survivors reported no serious adverse events, suggesting that similar non-invasive brain monitoring techniques may be safe.12678

How does this treatment for language disorders differ from other treatments?

This treatment uses a novel computerized platform for language mapping during brain surgery, which is unique because it allows for more precise and flexible assessment of language function compared to traditional methods. It integrates with preoperative imaging and intraoperative testing to better identify and characterize language deficits, making it particularly useful during awake brain surgeries.134910

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults aged 18-85 with language disorders or epilepsy who are already scheduled for intracranial monitoring of the left cerebral hemisphere. Participants must be able to follow test instructions and give informed consent.

Inclusion Criteria

My medical team has recommended monitoring of my brain's left side for epilepsy.
The ability to comply with test directions and provide informed consent
I am between 18 and 85 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

I understand and can follow the study's requirements.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intracranial Monitoring

Neural responses to language stimuli are collected from epileptic patients undergoing intracranial monitoring

Up to 10 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Behavioral tasks during intracranial monitoring
Trial OverviewThe study investigates how the human brain processes language by having participants perform behavioral tasks during intracranial monitoring, aiming to combine neural data with computational models of cognition.
Participant Groups
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Epileptic participants undergoing intracranial monitoringExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Patients with pharmaco-resistant epilepsy undergoing intracranial monitoring involving the left cerebral hemisphere.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Massachusetts General Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials
3,066
Recruited
13,430,000+

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Collaborator

Trials
104
Recruited
12,810,000+

Findings from Research

A new computerized platform for language mapping during awake craniotomy procedures significantly enhances the detection and characterization of language deficits compared to traditional methods, as demonstrated in four illustrative cases.
The platform showed excellent spatial agreement between intraoperative language mapping and preoperative fMRI results, confirming its efficacy in improving the accuracy of language assessments during surgery.
A novel tablet computer platform for advanced language mapping during awake craniotomy procedures.Morrison, MA., Tam, F., Garavaglia, MM., et al.[2022]
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with speech and language treatment (SLT) is safe for stroke survivors with aphasia, showing no serious adverse events during a six-week treatment involving 30 sessions.
Participants receiving active tDCS exhibited greater improvements in functional language compared to those receiving sham treatment, suggesting that tDCS may enhance the effectiveness of SLT, although the superiority of one stimulation polarity over another remains unclear.
Extended fMRI-Guided Anodal and Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Targeting Perilesional Areas in Post-Stroke Aphasia: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.Cherney, LR., Babbitt, EM., Wang, X., et al.[2021]
This study involved 100 patients undergoing epilepsy surgery, using 3D and 4D mapping techniques to identify specific brain regions responsible for speech and language functions, revealing critical areas linked to various language impairments.
The findings suggest that the brain can rapidly switch activation between different regions during speech tasks, with older patients showing more left-dominant activation in language-related areas, which may help in predicting language function for presurgical evaluations.
Three- and four-dimensional mapping of speech and language in patients with epilepsy.Nakai, Y., Jeong, JW., Brown, EC., et al.[2022]

References

A novel tablet computer platform for advanced language mapping during awake craniotomy procedures. [2022]
Extended fMRI-Guided Anodal and Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Targeting Perilesional Areas in Post-Stroke Aphasia: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial. [2021]
Three- and four-dimensional mapping of speech and language in patients with epilepsy. [2022]
[A Trial of Unified Management of Language Tasks Using a Tablet Device for Language Area Mapping]. [2019]
Localization patterns of speech and language errors during awake brain surgery: a systematic review. [2023]
Combined analysis of language tasks in fMRI improves assessment of hemispheric dominance for language functions in individual subjects. [2006]
Role of the lateral prefrontal cortex in speech monitoring. [2021]
(15)O water positron emission tomography in language localization: a study comparing positron emission tomography visual and computerized region of interest analysis with the Wada test. [2019]
Psychophysiological and Eye-Tracking Markers of Speech and Language Processing in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: New Options for Difficult-to-Test Populations. [2022]
10.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Comparative localization of auditory comprehension by using functional magnetic resonance imaging and cortical stimulation. [2007]