Mechanisms of Neuronal Excitation by Magnetically Induced Currents

该项目将研究：i)磁刺激激活神经组织的机制；ii)计算不同体积导体中的感应场；iii)使用轴突和神经元模型在计算机上模拟这些场的影响；以及iv)设计一个能够聚焦感应场的线圈。该项目还打算直接测试这种线圈在周围神经系统和中枢神经系统(CNS)中的疗效。这种理论和实验相结合的方法应该会产生关于磁刺激机制和聚焦磁场对神经系统兴奋的有效性的有用和重要的信息。这种非侵入性的刺激方法应该为临床医生提供一个强大的工具来研究和绘制正常的大脑功能图，以及诊断某些类型的神经疾病，前提是可以理解磁场和神经组织之间相互作用的机制。

This project will study: i) the mechanisms of activation of neural tissue by magnetic stimulation; ii) calculate induced fields in various volume conductors; iii) simulate on the computer the effects of these fields using models of axons and neurons; and iv) design a coil capable of focussing the induced fields. This project also intends to test directly the efficacy of this coil in both the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system (CNS). This combination of a theoretical with an experimental approach should generate useful and important information about the mechanisms of magnetic stimulation and the efficacy of focussing magnetic fields for the excitation of the nervous system. This non-invasive method of stimulation should provide clinicians with a powerful tool to study and map normal brain function as well as diagnose certain types of neural diseases provided that the mechanisms of the interactions between magnetic fields and neural tissue can be understood.