Human single neuron recordings in epilepsy patients v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Human single neuron recordings in epilepsy patients
IRAS ID
179388
Contact name
Bernhard Staresina
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
The smallest operating unit of the human brain is the single neuron. The firing patterns of these neurons regulate everyday cognitive functions, such as remembering a past experience. In order to better understand the mechanisms underlying memory it is important to study these single neurons in humans. Recording single neurons in the human brain is challenging, but is possible via the development of special electrodes which are chronically implanted in epilepsy patients undergoing pre-surgical evaluation. In particular, in cases of medically intractable epilepsy, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Neurosurgery Department may choose to implant electrodes for up to two weeks in order to precisely localize (and subsequently resect) the epileptic focus. In this project we will make use of these electrodes, which are safe and pose no clinically relevant risk to the patient. Neural activity from single neurons and small neural assemblies will be recorded from structures in the medial temporal lobe (MTL), which is central both for memory and epilepsy. The proposed research would involve patients participating in simple memory experiments, like memorizing pairs of images shown on a laptop computer and later being asked to recall these images. Experiments are split up in several sessions with each session not lasting longer than 1 hour. Neural activity will also be recorded throughout the whole monitoring period at no additional burden to the patient, providing the clinical data that is the purpose of the electrode implantations, as well as novel markers of epilepsy that may be more specific than those currently used. It is important to emphasize that the electrode implantation is guided entirely by clinical considerations and that the research experiments would put no physical or psychological stressors on patients. The information gleaned from this study will lead to important new insights in basic as well as clinical science, improving our understanding of the mechanisms underlying memory and improving diagnostic tools for epilepsy.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0219
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion