diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
index 17592e6..9013a04 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ on:
   pull_request:
     branches: [ "master" ]
 
+env:
+  BUILD_ENV: ci
+
 permissions:
   contents: read
 
diff --git a/src/meegsim/simulate.py b/src/meegsim/simulate.py
index 6c2eceb..135baef 100644
--- a/src/meegsim/simulate.py
+++ b/src/meegsim/simulate.py
@@ -168,6 +168,8 @@ def add_patch_sources(
         waveform_params=dict(),
         snr_params=dict(),
         extents=None,
+        subject=None,
+        subjects_dir=None,
         names=None,
     ):
         """
@@ -227,6 +229,14 @@ def add_patch_sources(
             grown (using :func:`mne.grow_labels`) from vertices specified in
             location according to the provided values of extent. If a single number
             is provided, all patch sources have the same extent.
+        subject : str, optional
+            Subject name, only used when growing patch sources from the central vertex.
+            If None (default), it is derived from the ``src`` object provided when
+            initializing the simulator.
+        subject_dir : str, optional
+            Path to the directory with FreeSurfer output, only used when growing patch
+            sources from the central vertex. If None (default), it is resolved automatically
+            by MNE-Python.
         names : list, optional
             A list of names for each source. If not specified, the names will be
             autogenerated using the format 'auto-sgN-sM', where N is the index
@@ -247,8 +257,10 @@ def add_patch_sources(
             std=std,
             location_params=location_params,
             waveform_params=waveform_params,
-            extents=extents,
             snr_params=snr_params,
+            extents=extents,
+            subject=subject,
+            subjects_dir=subjects_dir,
             names=names,
             group=f"sg{next_group_idx}",
             existing=self._sources,
diff --git a/src/meegsim/source_groups.py b/src/meegsim/source_groups.py
index 8cdad60..c409c23 100644
--- a/src/meegsim/source_groups.py
+++ b/src/meegsim/source_groups.py
@@ -162,7 +162,17 @@ def create(
 
 class PatchSourceGroup(_BaseSourceGroup):
     def __init__(
-        self, n_sources, location, waveform, snr, snr_params, std, extents, names
+        self,
+        n_sources,
+        location,
+        waveform,
+        snr,
+        snr_params,
+        std,
+        extents,
+        subject,
+        subjects_dir,
+        names,
     ):
         super().__init__()
 
@@ -178,6 +188,8 @@ def __init__(
         self.std = std
         self.names = names
         self.extents = extents
+        self.subject = subject
+        self.subjects_dir = subjects_dir
 
     def __repr__(self):
         location_desc = "list"
@@ -204,6 +216,8 @@ def simulate(self, src, times, random_state=None):
             self.std,
             self.names,
             self.extents,
+            self.subject,
+            self.subjects_dir,
             random_state=random_state,
         )
 
@@ -219,6 +233,8 @@ def create(
         waveform_params,
         snr_params,
         extents,
+        subject,
+        subjects_dir,
         names,
         group,
         existing,
@@ -247,6 +263,10 @@ def create(
             Additional parameters for the adjustment of SNR.
         extents: list
             Extents (radius in mm) of each patch provided by the user.
+        subject: str, optional
+            Subject name.
+        subject_dir: str, optional
+            Path to the directory with FreeSurfer output.
         names:
             The names of sources provided by the user.
         group:
@@ -280,4 +300,15 @@ def create(
         else:
             check_names(names, n_sources, existing)
 
-        return cls(n_sources, location, waveform, snr, snr_params, std, extents, names)
+        return cls(
+            n_sources,
+            location,
+            waveform,
+            snr,
+            snr_params,
+            std,
+            extents,
+            subject,
+            subjects_dir,
+            names,
+        )
diff --git a/src/meegsim/sources.py b/src/meegsim/sources.py
index 2ae104d..3534684 100644
--- a/src/meegsim/sources.py
+++ b/src/meegsim/sources.py
@@ -299,6 +299,8 @@ def _create(
         stds,
         names,
         extents,
+        subject,
+        subjects_dir,
         random_state=None,
     ):
         """
@@ -323,8 +325,11 @@ def _create(
         if data.shape[1] != len(times):
             raise ValueError("The number of samples in waveform does not match")
 
-        # find patch vertices
-        subject = src[0].get("subject_his_id", None)
+        # Pick subject name from src if not provided explicitly
+        if subject is None:
+            subject = src[0].get("subject_his_id", None)
+
+        # Find patch vertices
         patch_vertices = []
         patch_stds = [] if isinstance(stds, mne.SourceEstimate) else stds
         for isource, extent in enumerate(extents):
@@ -347,7 +352,11 @@ def _create(
 
             # Grow the patch from center otherwise
             patch = mne.grow_labels(
-                subject, vertno, extent, src_idx, subjects_dir=None
+                subject=subject,
+                seeds=vertno,
+                extents=extent,
+                hemis=src_idx,
+                subjects_dir=subjects_dir,
             )[0]
 
             # Prune vertices
diff --git a/tests/test_simulate.py b/tests/test_simulate.py
index 6044a8c..c2e506b 100644
--- a/tests/test_simulate.py
+++ b/tests/test_simulate.py
@@ -383,6 +383,8 @@ def test_simulate_std_adjustment():
             snr_params=dict(),
             std=[3],
             extents=[None],
+            subject=None,
+            subjects_dir=None,
             names=["patch"],
         ),
     ]
diff --git a/tests/test_snr.py b/tests/test_snr.py
index e65549f..5b144a1 100644
--- a/tests/test_snr.py
+++ b/tests/test_snr.py
@@ -243,6 +243,8 @@ def test_adjust_snr_local_patch(adjust_snr_mock):
             snr_params=dict(fmin=8, fmax=12),
             std=1,
             extents=None,
+            subject=None,
+            subjects_dir=None,
             names=["s1"],
         ),
         PatchSourceGroup(
@@ -253,6 +255,8 @@ def test_adjust_snr_local_patch(adjust_snr_mock):
             snr_params=dict(),
             std=1,
             extents=None,
+            subject=None,
+            subjects_dir=None,
             names=["s2"],
         ),
     ]
diff --git a/tests/test_sources.py b/tests/test_sources.py
index f0fc3a3..425ec81 100644
--- a/tests/test_sources.py
+++ b/tests/test_sources.py
@@ -347,6 +347,8 @@ def test_patchsource_create_with_extent():
             stds=stds,
             names=names,
             extents=extents,
+            subject=None,
+            subjects_dir=None,
             random_state=None,
         )
 
@@ -369,7 +371,7 @@ def test_patchsource_create_with_extent():
 
         # Verify that grow_labels was called once for the source with extent
         mock_grow_labels.assert_called_once_with(
-            "meegsim", [2], 3, 0, subjects_dir=None
+            subject="meegsim", seeds=[2], extents=3, hemis=0, subjects_dir=None
         )
 
 
@@ -391,13 +393,13 @@ def test_patchsource_create_std_sourceestimate(get_param_mock):
 
     # Values are passed directly - the mock should not be used
     sources = PatchSource._create(
-        src, times, n_sources, location, waveform, stds, names, extents
+        src, times, n_sources, location, waveform, stds, names, extents, None, None
     )
     get_param_mock.assert_not_called()
 
     # Values are passed in stc - the mock should be called once per patch
     sources = PatchSource._create(
-        src, times, n_sources, location, waveform, std_stc, names, extents
+        src, times, n_sources, location, waveform, std_stc, names, extents, None, None
     )
     assert get_param_mock.call_count == n_sources
 
diff --git a/tests/test_subject.py b/tests/test_subject.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c372460
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_subject.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+"""
+Tests for ensuring that subject-specific info is processed and set correctly.
+"""
+
+import mne
+import pytest
+
+from mne.datasets import sample
+
+from meegsim.location import select_random
+from meegsim.simulate import SourceSimulator
+from meegsim.waveform import narrowband_oscillation
+
+from utils.misc import running_on_ci
+
+
+def prepare_real_data():
+    data_path = sample.data_path() / "MEG" / "sample"
+    fwd_path = data_path / "sample_audvis-meg-eeg-oct-6-fwd.fif"
+    raw_path = data_path / "sample_audvis_raw.fif"
+    subjects_dir = sample.data_path() / "subjects"
+
+    # Load the prerequisites: fwd, src, and info
+    fwd = mne.read_forward_solution(fwd_path)
+    fwd = mne.convert_forward_solution(fwd, force_fixed=True)
+    raw = mne.io.read_raw(raw_path)
+    info = raw.info
+
+    # Pick EEG channels only
+    eeg_idx = mne.pick_types(info, eeg=True)
+    info_eeg = mne.pick_info(info, eeg_idx)
+    fwd_eeg = fwd.pick_channels(info_eeg.ch_names)
+
+    return fwd_eeg, info_eeg, subjects_dir
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(running_on_ci(), reason="Skip tests with real data on CI")
+def test_grow_patch_source():
+    fwd, info, subjects_dir = prepare_real_data()
+    src = fwd["src"]
+
+    sfreq = 250
+    duration = 60
+    seed = 123
+
+    sim = SourceSimulator(src, snr_mode="local")
+
+    # Select some vertices randomly
+    sim.add_patch_sources(
+        location=select_random,
+        waveform=narrowband_oscillation,
+        location_params=dict(n=3),
+        waveform_params=dict(fmin=8, fmax=12),
+        extents=5,
+        subjects_dir=subjects_dir,
+        names=["s1", "s2", "s3"],
+    )
+
+    sc = sim.simulate(sfreq, duration, fwd=fwd, random_state=seed)
+    sc.to_raw(fwd, info)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(running_on_ci(), reason="Skip tests with real data on CI")
+def test_sourceconfiguration_plot():
+    fwd, _, subjects_dir = prepare_real_data()
+    src = fwd["src"]
+
+    sfreq = 250
+    duration = 60
+    seed = 123
+
+    sim = SourceSimulator(src, snr_mode="local")
+    sim.add_noise_sources(location=select_random, location_params=dict(n=10))
+
+    sc = sim.simulate(sfreq, duration, fwd=fwd, random_state=seed)
+    brain = sc.plot(subject="sample", subjects_dir=subjects_dir)
+    brain.close()
diff --git a/tests/utils/misc.py b/tests/utils/misc.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..350235c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utils/misc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+import os
+
+
+def running_on_ci():
+    return os.environ.get("BUILD_ENV", "local") == "ci"