EPICONN TM
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Restoring healthy brain connectivity dynamics under image guidance: A pilot of transcranial electrical current stimulation in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
IRAS ID
219420
Contact name
David Carmichael
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
It is important to develop new treatment options to reduce epileptic activity and minimise its impact on the brains abilities (such as attention and memory). Electrical brain stimulation may in the future be an important additional option however little is understood about how it works and how it might be used in epilepsy.
We want to show that we can take new measurements to determine the impact of a type of brain stimulation called TES (which is safe and does not hurt). We aim to show it is possible to alter the amount of epileptic activity seen in scalp EEG using TES and GSR (galvanic skin response) and how this is linked to the changes it’s made to the brains connectivity. This is technically difficult but we have already been working together to solve the problems.
This data will show that we can change how the brain is behaving by brain stimulation and GSR biofeedback to make them more like brains without epilepsy - and to reduce epileptic activity.
In this pilot project we will demonstrate the feasibility of using TES to alter the brain dynamics of patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy in a way that we think will reduce epileptic activity. In a second step we will aim to combine TES with GSR biofeedback to possibly enhance this effect further.REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1668
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion