Brain Activity During Learning and Memory

Summary

This study focuses on individuals who have medically intractable epilepsy and are planning to, or have already undergone, insertion of electrodes into the brain to help find the source of seizures. The purpose of the study is to measure the activity of individual nerve cells (neurons) and collections of nerve cells (local field potentials) in the brain during simple learning, memory, decision-making or problem-solving tasks, as well as before and during voluntary movement.

Measuring the activity of these brain areas in response such tasks may improve understanding of the mechanisms by which the brain processes, stores, consolidates and recalls a variety of memories and problem-solving strategies. Participation in the study is expected to last until the time the patient’s electrodes are removed, typically one to three weeks after insertion. Electrical stimulation will be performed using a standard human cortical electrical stimulation device, the IZ2MH. The use of IZ2MH in this study is investigational.