Acquisition and Analysis Protocol Optimization of Neurophysiological Data Neurorehabilitation Settings (MEEGOPTI)

IRCCS San Camillo, Venezia, Italy

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Other: Neurophysiological Recordings

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06297057

2021.07

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study aims to optimize and validate protocols for acquiring neurophysiological data, specifically resting state functional connectivity, using advanced research techniques (hdEEG and MEG) and a user-friendly device (MUSE). Previous studies have extensively explored functional connectivity repeatability in resting conditions using functional MRI, yet few have focused on hdEEG and MEG data. Additionally, the impact of subjects' eye conditions (open or closed) during resting state recordings on network identification remains debated.

The investigation involves assessing the effect of eye conditions on brain network identification and determining the most stable and repeatable measures of functional connectivity over time. This analysis is crucial for discerning whether observed changes in patients' functional connections are intrinsic to the methodology or indicative of genuine physiological alterations.

The study aims to optimize protocols for rehabilitation by evaluating changes in functional connectivity metrics during and between experimental sessions. Furthermore, it seeks to identify the conditions (eyes closed or open) that yield more reliable and repeatable functional measurements.

Following the optimization of advanced techniques, the study explores the feasibility of utilizing the MUSE EEG system in clinical settings. MUSE, known for its portability and user-friendliness, has demonstrated quality in experimental psychology and clinical research. The objective is to establish relevant functional correspondences between measurements obtained through research techniques (hdEEG and MEG) and those acquired with MUSE.

The primary goal is to establish a protocol highlighting subjects' responses to acoustic stimuli or a reproducible pattern of resting state activity. The secondary objectives include investigating temporal and spatial characteristics of neurophysiological signals in healthy subjects over time and defining prognostic biomarkers for monitoring patients undergoing rehabilitation. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance the understanding of resting state functional connectivity and its applications in clinical settings.

Therefore, to meet these goals, the present study will consist of multiple recordings of brain activity: by high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and low-density EEG with a MUSE handheld device, during five experimental blocks on healthy subjects.

Full description

Participants who will be identified as suitable for hdEEG, MEG, and MUSE recording will first undergo a neuronavigation session, and then three identical neurophysiological data acquisition sessions, one for hdEEG, one for MEG, and one for MUSE.

The sessions will take place in three consecutive weeks, once a week, taking care that these recordings are made at the same time of day for each participant. Finally, a structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) recording will be obtained for each participant.

Each neurophysiological data acquisition session will consist of 5 blocks: 4 eyes-open and eyes-closed resting-state blocks, and one passive auditory stimulation block.

The four blocks in the resting condition will always be performed first, to avoid interference due to the passive acoustic task. The order of blocks 1 and 2, and consequently also blocks 3 and 4, representing the open-eye and closed-eye conditions will be counterbalanced between participants and between different sessions for the same participant.

Enrollment: 15 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age between 18 and 65
• ability to sign an informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

• has suffered/is suffering from epileptic seizures.
• has had severe neurological or psychiatric disorders
• has eyesight problems that prevent him/her from reading, which she cannot correct with contact lenses (she will not be able to wear glasses during registration)
• habitually abused drugs or abused alcoholic substances
• has abused substances such as alcohol or drugs in the last three days
• is a wearer of hearing aids
• has metal and/or skull clips or other metal in any part of the head except the mouth
• has non-removable tattoos
• has piercings, earrings or other metal accessories that cannot be removed.
• is or could be pregnant (pregnancy in the first trimester)
• is a carrier of sickle cell anaemia
• is a cardiac pacemaker wearer or has an artificial heart valve
• has mechanical devices that he/she uses to administer medication
• has a surgical clip (vascular clips and metallic arterial prostheses made of ferromagnetic material)
• has a cochlear implant, a neurostimulator or a programmable hydrocephalic electrical conductor (shunt)
• has had brain surgery
• has implants or metal fragments in the body

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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15 participants in 1 patient group

Neurophysiological Recordings

Experimental group

Description:

Participants suitable for hdEEG, MEG, and MUSE recordings will first undergo a neuronavigation session, and then three identical neurophysiological data acquisition sessions, one for hdEEG, one for MEG, and one for MUSE. The sessions will take place in three consecutive weeks, once a week, taking care that they are made at the same time of day for each participant. Finally, a structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) recording will be obtained for each participant. Each neurophysiological data acquisition session will consist of 5 blocks: 4 eyes-open and eyes-closed resting-state blocks, and one passive auditory stimulation block. The four blocks in the resting condition will be performed first, to avoid interference due to the passive acoustic task. The order of blocks 1 and 2, and consequently also blocks 3 and 4, representing the open-eye and closed-eye conditions will be counterbalanced between subjects and between different sessions for the same subject.

Treatment:

Other: Neurophysiological Recordings