Testing Blue Light with Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Refractory Epilepsy
Tests whether blue light changes vagus nerve stimulation effects in adults with refractory epilepsy.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Effect of Blue Light on Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients With Refractory Epilepsy
Key facts
- Where
- Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, BelgiumSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 60 years old?
Source: NCT06304389, who can take part
Where in Belgium
- Cliniques universitaires Saint-LucWoluwe-Saint-Lambert, BelgiumTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain
- Trial code
- NCT06304389
- Record updated
- 2 November 2026
- Original description
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an adjunctive treatment for refractory epilepsy. Although widely used, there is still a substantial number of patients with insufficient response. Light, and particularly blue light, can stimulate alertness, attention and cognition through modulation of anatomical targets which are common to the vagal afferent network. This project aims at understanding how exposure to blue enriched light may influence VNS effects in patients with refractory epilepsy by exploring the modulation of a series of biomarkers of VNS action. This could possibly lead to new therapeutic strategies to increase efficacy of VNS.Read full original descriptionShow less
Effect of Blue Light on Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients With Refractory Epilepsy
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an adjunctive treatment for refractory epilepsy. Although widely used, there is still a substantial number of patients with insufficient response. Light, and particularly blue light, can stimulate alertness, attention and cognition through modulation of anatomical targets which are common to the vagal afferent network. This project aims at understanding how exposure to blue enriched light may influence VNS effects in patients with refractory epilepsy by exploring the modulation of a series of biomarkers of VNS action. This could possibly lead to new therapeutic strategies to increase efficacy of VNS.
Inclusion: Patients:; VNS implanted since at least 3 months age >18-60 years; IQ >55 on Wechsler scale (normal status or mild cognitive impairment); healthy participants aged between 18 and 35 years without any medical history (neurological / psychiatric disease).
Exclusion: other medical implanted devices than VNS, ocular diseases; medical implanted devices, cerebral trauma, ocular disease; Patients:; Helthy participants:.