Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Researchers are studying adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a condition marked by difficulties in communication, social skills, and repetitive behaviors. The study aims to understand how a brain stimulation technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) might reduce symptoms like anxiety and impulsivity. The research also seeks to use brain activity data and clinical information to predict who will respond well to this treatment. Participants will receive active tDCS for 10 sessions over two weeks, one session per day on working days. During each 20-minute session, they will perform exercises designed to improve processing speed and executive function while receiving brain stimulation. After treatment, participants will be classified as responders or non-responders based on improvements in social responsiveness scores. Throughout the study, participants will undergo various assessments including behavioral scales, cognitive tests, and neurophysiological measurements at the start and after the treatment period. Researchers will track changes in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and brain function. This will help determine the effects of tDCS and identify characteristics that predict treatment response, with the total study duration extending up to the final follow-up in 2026.

Researchers are studying patients over 60 years old undergoing major non-cardiac surgery to find the best blood pressure level to maintain during surgery for optimal brain health. This observational study aims to determine if non-invasive monitors measuring brain electrical activity (EEG) and blood oxygen levels (cerebral oximetry) can help tailor blood pressure for each individual and understand how much this optimal level differs between patients. Participants will have EEG and cerebral oximetry monitoring stickers placed on their foreheads before surgery, which will collect data throughout the surgery and up to 24 hours afterward or until extubation. These monitors will be connected to specialized equipment that records brain and blood pressure data in real-time without affecting medical care. The study includes assessments before surgery, during surgery, and after surgery, including cognitive and delirium testing using standardized tools like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). During the study, participants will complete questionnaires about their brain health at enrollment and daily after surgery. They will undergo baseline cognitive testing before surgery, continuous brain monitoring during surgery, and daily cognitive and delirium assessments during hospitalization. Follow-up assessments by phone will occur at one month and six months after surgery. Researchers will also collect medical data such as medications, pain scores, and vital signs to analyze alongside cognitive outcomes. The primary focus is on measuring cerebral autoregulation and brain function related to blood pressure during and after surgery.

Researchers are investigating how differences in brain structure relate to personality and behavior in adults with and without alcohol dependence. The study also aims to explore connections between these brain differences and specific genetic variations related to neurotransmitter activity. This observational research involves both inpatient individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder and non-treatment seeking adult volunteers. Participants will undergo brain imaging assessments, including a variety of MRI scans such as whole brain structural MRI, Diffusion Tensor MRI, and resting state functional MRI, while performing computerized cognitive, motivational, and emotional tasks. These assessments help characterize brain behavior, structure, function, and connectivity related to addiction stages. The study includes groups of individuals currently in alcohol use treatment and those not seeking treatment. During a study visit at the NIH Clinical Center, participants will complete screening procedures including medical history, physical exam, EKG, blood and urine tests, and a psychiatric interview. They will also be asked about their alcohol use and play computerized games, some while inside an MRI scanner. Researchers will measure brain imaging signals linked to addiction phases, analyze genetic and behavioral data, and monitor task performance. The total participation involves one or more visits with detailed assessments to understand the brain and behavioral factors associated with alcoholism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by challenges in communication, social skills, and behavior. Researchers are evaluating the effects of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, to improve cognitive and social functions in adolescents with ASD. The study aims to understand how tDCS may affect brain mechanisms and assess if booster sessions can enhance and prolong benefits. Participants will receive either active or sham tDCS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, applied during executive function training tasks over 10 sessions within two weeks. The active stimulation involves 20 minutes of current, while the sham group experiences brief initial stimulation only. Responders will enter a six-month follow-up phase receiving randomized booster sessions of active or sham tDCS bi-monthly for three months, then monthly for another three months. During the trial, participants will be assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale and neuropsychological cognitive tests at multiple time points up to 26 weeks. Researchers will monitor social responsiveness changes and clinical responses to tDCS. The study includes careful monitoring of cognitive and social improvements, with evaluations before, during, and after treatment to understand the lasting effects and safety of tDCS in ASD adolescents.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental condition affecting communication, social skills, and cognitive functions, often causing emotional stress for individuals and their communities. This research investigates the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, to study its effects on reducing core ASD symptoms such as anxiety, aggression, impulsivity, and social difficulties. The trial aims to understand the long-term benefits of tDCS and whether booster sessions can help maintain improvements in adolescents with ASD. Participants receive either active or sham (placebo) multisession tDCS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, combined with an online cognitive training program focused on executive functions. The study compares groups receiving active multisession tDCS plus active booster sessions against those receiving sham multisession and booster tDCS, and also examines the role of booster treatments in sustaining cognitive benefits. Each tDCS session involves a brief stimulation causing a tingling sensation, followed by a 20-minute cognitive training task. The study duration includes assessments at baseline, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. During the study, participants undergo repeated evaluations including the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) to measure social function changes, cognitive tests, and EEG recordings to assess brain activity changes. Safety and clinical responses to tDCS are monitored at multiple time points. The trial uses a randomized, triple-blind design to ensure unbiased results. Overall participation lasts up to 12 months, with multiple follow-up visits to track sustained effects and potential relapse risks.

Researchers are studying brain chemistry and activity using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) techniques. The goal is to improve and develop new imaging methods that allow detailed measurement of brain metabolites and energy metabolism in healthy adults aged 18 to 65. This research aims to support future studies of psychiatric and neurological disorders by providing better imaging tools. Participants will undergo a screening visit including medical and neurological exams, blood and urine tests, and possibly a clinical MRI to check for brain abnormalities. The main scanning visit uses high-strength MRI scanners to perform proton and phosphorous MRS scans of the brain and muscle. These scans measure various brain chemicals and energy molecules, and the total MRS scan time ranges from one to two hours. The study does not involve medications and uses specialized equipment such as a 7 Tesla scanner and a proton imaging head coil. During participation, individuals will complete screening assessments and then have MRI and MRS scans to collect imaging data. Researchers will evaluate the quality of the spectroscopy images based on signal-to-noise ratio, lineshape, and resolution. They will also monitor improvements in scanner hardware, software, and imaging methods. The study is ongoing and involves healthy volunteers over an extended period, with careful safety and quality controls throughout the process.

Psychological stress is common and can significantly affect people's lives. This research focuses on chiropractic students in a Masters level course in Scotland to explore how stress might change brain activity over a semester. The study aims to see if EEG, a tool that records brain waves, can objectively measure stress levels alongside a stress questionnaire. Researchers want to test if such a study is practical for a larger future project. Participants will be observed without receiving any treatment. The study involves three assessment sessions spaced about four weeks apart during the semester. Each session includes filling out a stress questionnaire and undergoing EEG recordings while seated, with eyes open and closed. Students will also complete a Montreal Imaging Stress Task during EEG recording to assess stress responses. Participants will be involved over roughly 16 weeks, attending three visits for data collection. During each visit, their brain activity will be recorded, and they will complete questionnaires related to stress. The research team will track recruitment and retention rates and monitor any challenges or adverse events. The main goal is to understand the feasibility of using EEG to measure stress changes over time in these students.

Stroke often causes long-term disabilities, including slower movement and difficulties with executive functions, which can affect recovery quality. Researchers are studying how specific brain regions interact to control action speed. This study uses advanced brain imaging and stimulation techniques to better understand and potentially improve action speed in stroke patients. The trial involves healthy adults and stroke patients to explore brain network function and rehabilitation approaches. The study is divided into three phases. In the first phase, healthy participants undergo targeted brain stimulation to temporarily disrupt seven key brain areas and see how this affects their action speed. The second phase tests intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on the most important brain regions in healthy individuals to assess changes in action speed. In the final clinical phase, stroke patients receive personalized iTBS treatments aimed at improving their action speed, with progress tracked over several months. Participants will be evaluated at the start, immediately after treatment, and at one and three months post-treatment. Assessments include reaction time tasks, brain connectivity measurements using EEG, fNIRS, and dynamic causal modeling, and tests of executive function and daily motor skills. Researchers will compare stroke patients' results with healthy controls to refine stimulation techniques and develop personalized rehabilitation strategies to support better recovery after stroke.

Researchers are investigating whether the neurological outcome after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can be predicted earlier than the currently recommended 72-hour time point. This study focuses on adult patients who suffered a cardiac arrest of presumed cardiac or unknown cause and are unconscious after resuscitation. It explores combining clinical exams, brain injury markers like neurofilament light (NFL), EEG, and head CT scans to predict poor functional outcomes at 24 hours post-arrest without false positives. The study is a prospective observational substudy within the larger STEPCARE trial, conducted by Lund University and involving multiple international centers. The study involves collecting blood samples to measure brain injury markers at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after randomization. EEG and CT scans are performed as early as possible after 24 hours in patients still unconscious. Additional neuroimaging and electrophysiological data, including SSEP and MRI, are collected for central blind review. Patients receive intensive care according to STEPCARE trial protocols, which include varying sedation, fever treatment, and blood pressure targets, but decisions about life-sustaining therapy withdrawal follow current guidelines and are not made solely on early exam results. Participants will be assessed with clinical exams, blood tests, EEG, and imaging during their hospital stay, with data stored securely using study IDs. Functional outcomes are evaluated six months after randomization using the modified Rankin Scale, with poor outcomes defined as moderate to severe disability or death. The study aims to determine whether early prognostic tools can predict neurological outcomes accurately and safely, with final biomarker analyses performed after trial completion.

Researchers are investigating early predictors of wake-up success after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a prospective observational substudy (WAKE-OHCA) of the larger DANOHCA trial. This study focuses on understanding how different neuromonitoring techniques relate to patient outcomes and sedation length in post-resuscitation care. The goal is to identify key patient and neurological factors that influence early and late wake-up, improving decision-making and care strategies for unconscious patients after cardiac arrest. Participants undergo various neuromonitoring tests including automated pupillometry, transcranial doppler ultrasound, optic nerve sheath diameter ultrasound, and continuous EEG with reactivity testing. These measurements are taken at multiple time points from enrollment up to 72 hours in comatose patients to assess neurological status and cerebral blood flow. The study collects data on sedation length, patient variables, and outcomes to analyze predictors of wake-up success and neurological recovery. During the study, researchers collect baseline medical and cardiac arrest data from medical records and registries. Neuromonitoring data is gathered repeatedly within the first 72 hours after enrollment. The primary outcome is the number of patients who successfully wake up early or later according to sedation protocols. Secondary outcomes include mortality, length of ICU and hospital stay, days alive outside the hospital, and neurological function up to six months. Participant safety is monitored throughout, and treatments remain standard care without influence from neuromonitoring results.