NCT07500909

Study of the Role of Top-down Processes in Neuronal Reorganization and Recovery From Sensory Loss: an Exploratory Behavioral and Electroencephalographic Study in Cochlear-supported Deaf Patients

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 90 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University Hospital, Toulouse · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study posits that central top-down processes (attention, inhibition), marked by alpha oscillations in EEG, play a key role. Understanding the evolution of these neuronal signatures and their link to pre-implantation visual dependence could allow the identification of biomarkers predictive of the success of auditory rehabilitation.

Detailed description

Profound bilateral deafness leads to sensory deprivation and neuronal reorganization ( visual recruitment of the auditory cortex). Although cochlear implants restore hearing, comprehension performance varies considerably. Peripheral factors explain only 40% of this variance. This study posits that central top-down processes (attention, inhibition), marked by alpha oscillations in EEG, play a key role. Understanding the evolution of these neuronal signatures and their link to pre-implantation visual dependence could allow the identification of biomarkers predictive of the success of auditory rehabilitation.

Conditions

• Deafness, Bilateral

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	neurophysiological assessment	Electroencephalography and eye tracking
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive, behavioral and quality of life assessment	Cognitive anfd behavioral assessment : Speech recognition test in silence (MBAA) and in noise, verbal working memory task with distractors, Trail Making Test and MoCA test. Quality of lige assessment : This questionnaire is a set of scales concerning patients' hearing abilities, experience, and listening skills in different situations. For each question, the patient must answer by choosing a number between 1 (not at all) and 10 (perfectly).

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-01
• Primary completion: 2029-03-01
• Completion: 2029-03-01
• First posted: 2026-03-30
• Last updated: 2026-03-30