Language Acquisition in the BrainSYNTAXENCT05217043
Language Acquisition in the Brain and Algorithms: Towards Systematic Monitoring of the Evolution of Semantic Representations in Biological and Artificial Neural Networks
An observational study of Language Acquisition in the Brain, run by Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
Speech depends on our ability to recursively combine successive words into a complex sense. Although the order of these putative operations (syntax) has been the subject of extensive examination in the way in which the human brain learns to perform a "Semantic composition" remains largely unknown. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Language Acquisition in the Brain
- What is being tested?
- intracranial brain recording
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 15 Jul 2022to 15 Feb 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Any patient benefiting from a long-term intracranial brain recording
Who may be able to join
- Any patient benefiting from a long-term intracranial brain recording.
- Non-opposition to participating in the study (adult patients)
- Non-opposition of at least one of the holders of the exercise of parental authority (minor patients)
Who cannot join
- Patient with complete deafness
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Fondation Ophtalmologique de Rothschild
Paris, France, 75019
Pierre Bourdillon, pbourdillon@for.paris
About this study
Speech depends on our ability to recursively combine successive words into a complex sense. Although the order of these putative operations (syntax) has been the subject of extensive examination in the way in which the human brain learns to perform a "Semantic composition" remains largely unknown.
The Rothschild Hospital houses a unit specializing in drug-resistant epilepsy in children from 2 to 20 years old.
Read more
The identification of the epileptogenic zone often requires making an iEEG recording for a week (implantation of intracerebral electrodes in depth).
Sometimes this recording has to be repeated, providing a unique opportunity to directly record brain activity at different periods of its development.
Children will listen to pre-recorded phrases and stories such as "The Little Prince of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry" while being recorded with iEEG.
- Conditions
- Language Acquisition in the Brain
- Being tested
- intracranial brain recording
- Keywords
- Intracranial recordings
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
intracranial brain recordingOther
Any patient benefiting from a long-term intracranial brain recording.
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
This is a non-clinical research study investigating from intracranial recordings how speech representation changes throughout human development.
intracranial recordings
Measured: maximum 21 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Feb 2022
- Study start15 Jul 2022
- Primary completion15 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Feb 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Language Acquisition in the BrainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de RothschildThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Other
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild
- Sponsor type
- Research network
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05217043
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PBN_2021_25
- Acronym
- SYNTAXE
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 19 Jan 2022
- Last updated
- 5 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Language Acquisition in the Brain and Algorithms: Towards Systematic Monitoring of the Evolution of Semantic Representations in Biological and Artificial Neural Networks
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05217043
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SYNTAXE / PBN_2021_25
- Conditions
- Language Acquisition in the Brain
- Keywords
- Intracranial recordings
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de RothschildResearch network
- Study start
- 15 Jul 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Feb 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Speech depends on our ability to recursively combine successive words into a complex sense. Although the order of these putative operations (syntax) has been the subject of extensive examination in the way in which the human brain learns to perform a "Semantic composition" remains largely unknown.
The Rothschild Hospital houses a unit specializing in drug-resistant epilepsy in children from 2 to 20 years old.
The identification of the epileptogenic zone often requires making an iEEG recording for a week (implantation of intracerebral electrodes in depth).
Sometimes this recording has to be repeated, providing a unique opportunity to directly record brain activity at different periods of its development.
Children will listen to pre-recorded phrases and stories such as "The Little Prince of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry" while being recorded with iEEG.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Other
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Any patient benefiting from a long-term intracranial brain recording
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Any patient benefiting from a long-term intracranial brain recording.
- Non-opposition to participating in the study (adult patients)
- Non-opposition of at least one of the holders of the exercise of parental authority (minor patients)
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Patient with complete deafness
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| intracranial brain recordingAny patient benefiting from a long-term intracranial brain recording. | Other | – |
Primary outcome
This is a non-clinical research study investigating from intracranial recordings how speech representation changes throughout human development.
Time frame: maximum 21 days
intracranial recordings
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jan 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Language Acquisition in the Brain, run by Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Amélie YACHITZ ((0)148036454, ayavchitz@for.paris), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
This is a non-clinical research study investigating from intracranial recordings how speech representation changes throughout human development. (time frame: maximum 21 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jan 2026.