Understanding the mechanism of action of non-invasive brain stimulation

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The last few years have seen increased interest in non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to probe human cognition. NIBS is a group of techniques that applies electrical or magnetic fields to the human brain to alter cortical function. The techniques are painless, non-invasive and safe and are increasingly being used in cognitive neuroscience to better understand how the brain works. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding NIBS and the important insights is has provided in our understanding of how the brain performs cognitive tasks, the actual mechanism by which it modifies brain function remains partly unknown. The goal of the present proposal is to 1) use a variety of brain imaging techniques to determine how NIBS affects neurotransmitter function; and 2) determine if some individuals have specific characteristics that makes them more susceptible to the effects of NIBS. This research is important as NIBS is used not only to study human cognition, but also as a therapeutic tool for psychiatric and neurological conditions such as depression. It is anticipated that this research program will help better identify NIBS « responders » and further our understanding of the cellular and neurochemical effects of brain stimulation protocols. This program could have far reaching benefits for research as it will allow the development of tools that are better-suited for the study of cognition and treatment of patients.