Clinical trials

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if deep brain stimulation (DBS) works to treat refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Assess the effects of the anteromedial sub-thalamic nucleus (amSTN)stimulation on obsessive/compulsive symptoms. * Map the amSTN using neuronal responses \[single unit and local field potentials (LFP) recordings\] at rest and under high frequency stimulation during surgery. * Record chronic brain activity with the implanted pulse generator and look for neuronal signatures correlated with symptom severity. Researchers will compare active deep brain stimulation to a placebo (sham stimulation) to see if DBS works to treat refractory OCD. Participants will: * Undergo surgery for the implantation of a deep brain stimulation device * Follow-up visits every three weeks with study staff * 6 month follow-up for the next 2-3 years after first year of study participation is complete

This research study is being done to develop a novel brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that can enable severely paralyzed individuals to interact with the world through direct brain-control of a computer. This technology is named MindEx (for Mind Extender). It utilizes four implanted "chips" in the human brain from which investigators can record brain activity during subjects' thoughts and decode meaningful information from this activity to be used as control signals for a computer, a laptop, or a tablet. The use of four brain regions is a significant differentiating feature and scientific innovation of this study over much prior work in this space, that typically derived control signals from one, or sometimes two brain regions. The brain regions to be used here can allow the decode of multiple variables simultaneously, including not just moment-to-moment position, but also high-level goals, intentions, decisions, scene comprehension, and error-related signals involved in natural human behavior. The research is being done through a prospective, longitudinal, single-arm early feasibility study to examine the safety and effectiveness of using MindEx to provide the user an intuitive, efficient, and accurate ability to control multiple applications on a computer interface such as a word processor, a paint application, or to play simple video games. Such versatility could greatly improve the autonomy and quality of life of severely paralyzed individuals. Two subjects will be enrolled, each implanted with MindEx for a period of at least 53 weeks and up to 313 weeks. The study is expected to take at least one year and up to six years in total.

Treatment resistant depression remains a major problem for individuals and society. Surgical procedures may provide relief for some of these patients. The most frequently considered surgical approach is deep brain stimulation (DBS) of a part of the brain called the subcallosal cingulate region. However, the effectiveness and safety is not well established. The investigators will use a novel approach using advanced imaging technique (magnetic resonance tractography) to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this surgical approach. An innovative method for the definition of DBS target will be applied that redefines the concept of targeting as one of targeting a symptomatic network rather than a structural brain region using subject-based brain anatomy to define the target location. The correlation between imaging findings at baseline with the mood score changes at different time points of the study will be investigated.