NCT04325282Completed
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for BECTS
Impact of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on Spike Frequency and Brain Connectivity in Children With Benign Epilepsy With Centrotemporal Spike (BECTS)
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 4 Sept 2025
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is the most common pediatric epilepsy syndrome. Affected children typically have a mild seizure disorder, but yet have moderate difficulties with language, learning and attention that impact quality of life more than the seizures. Separate from the seizures, these children have very frequent abnormal activity in their brain known as interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs, or spikes), which physicians currently do not treat. These IEDs arise near the motor cortex, a region in the brain that controls movement. In this study, the investigators will use a form of non-invasive brain stimulation called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to determine the impact of IEDs on brain regions important for language to investigate: (1) if treatment of IEDs could improve language; and (2) if brain stimulation may be a treatment option for children with epilepsy. Participating children will wear electroencephalogram (EEG) caps to measure brain activity. The investigators will use TMS to stimulate the brain region where the IEDs originate to measure how this region is connected to other brain regions. Children will then receive a special form of TMS called repetitive TMS (rTMS) that briefly reduces brain excitability. The study will measure if IEDs decrease and if brain connectivity changes after rTMS is applied. The investigators hypothesize that the IEDs cause language problems by increasing connectivity between the motor cortex and language regions. The investigators further hypothesize that rTMS will reduce the frequency of IEDs and also reduce connectivity between the motor and language region
- Status (registry)
- Completed
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 22 (actual)
- First submitted
- 25 Mar 2020
- Start date
- Oct 2020
- Primary completion date
- Mar 2024
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford University
- Diseases
- Epilepsy
- NCT number
- NCT04325282
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 22
- From Oct 2020 to the primary completion date, Mar 2024
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other illness
- History of serious neurologic problems (i.e. history of other seizure disorder other than simple febrile seizure, head trauma with prolonged loss of consciousness, cerebrovascular accident or neuro-inflammatory disease)
- History of abnormal MRI (with clear gray or white matter abnormality)
Age
- History of prematurity \< 35 weeks gestational age;
Other
- Focal deficits on neurologic exam
Who the study is looking for
- A diagnosis of Benign Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS), sometimes called Rolandic Epilepsy. Diagnosis will be based on a history of a focal motor seizure (affecting the face or causing hypersalivation) or a history of a seizure out of sleep AND an EEG with unilateral or bilateral centrotemporal spike waves.
- English-speaking
Age in the registry: 5 years to 18 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University, School of Medicine Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Palo Alto | United States | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.