Exploring the Parameter Space of High Frequency Magnetic Perturbation in Manipulating Neural Excitability and Plasticity.

项目概要/摘要 无创脑刺激（NIBS）引起了认知神经科学的极大兴趣 社区，提供了一个重要的基础研究工具，研究大脑功能，与新兴的临床应用 以增强神经系统疾病患者的功能。尽管有这种潜力，但一种新兴的文学 强调了对经颅电刺激（tES）的可靠性和稳健性的担忧， NIBS方法用于通过应用阈下刺激诱导脑可塑性的变化。 这些问题可能与tES系统只能诱导适度电场（E场）的事实有关。 考虑到安全性/公差问题限制了可以输送的tES刺激强度， 在头皮上。我们开发了一种全新的NIBS方法，其中神经元的阈下调制 通过kHz频率的振荡磁场产生可激发性。该系统称为kTMP (kHz经颅磁扰动）显著增加了阈下电场感应的范围， 通过调制kHz载波频率的包络，可以在生理相关的电场 频率.三年的资助期将用于与人类参与者进行测试，以评估 系统在产生皮质生理学和行为变化方面的耐受性和功效。如果我们的 预期得到证实，该系统将引入一种强大的新方法来调节神经兴奋性 因此，为临床医生提供了治疗神经系统疾病的有前途的新干预措施。

Project Summary/Abstract Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has attracted considerable interest in the cognitive neuroscience community, providing an important basic research tool to study brain function, with emerging clinical applications to enhance function in individuals with neurological disorders. Despite this potential, an emerging literature has highlighted concerns regarding the reliability and robustness of transcranial electric stimulation (tES), the primary NIBS method used to induce changes in brain plasticity through the application of subthreshold stimulation. These problems are likely related to the fact that tES systems can only induce modest electrical fields (E-field) at the cortical surface given that safety/tolerance issues limit the intensity of tES stimulation that can be delivered at the scalp. We developed a radically new NIBS approach, one in which subthreshold modulation of neural excitability is brought about via oscillating magnetic fields at kHZ frequencies. This system, referred to kTMP (kHz Transcranial Magnetic Perturbation) significantly increases the range of subthreshold E-field induction, and through modulation of the envelope of the kHz carrier frequency, can impose E-fields at physiological relevant frequencies. The three-year funding period will be used to conduct testing with human participants to assess the tolerability and efficacy of the system in producing changes in cortical physiology and behavior. If our expectations are confirmed, this system will introduce a powerful new method for modulating neural excitability and as such, provide clinicians with a promising new intervention in the treatment of neurological disorders.