A Kilohertz-Frequency, Continuous-Wave Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator to Increase the Dynamic Range of Subthreshold Neuromodulation

项目总结/摘要 非侵入性脑刺激（NIBS）在认知神经科学中引起了相当大的兴趣 社区，为研究脑功能提供了重要的基础研究工具， 应用于增强患有神经障碍的个体的认知功能。尽管有这种潜力， 新兴的文献强调了对经颅电刺激的可靠性和稳健性的关注， 刺激（tES），主要的NIBS方法，用于通过应用 阈下刺激这些问题可能与tES系统只能诱导 考虑到安全性/公差问题限制了 可以在头皮处递送的tES刺激。我们建议开发一种全新的NIBS设备， 我们将在其上施加kHz频率的振荡磁场。理论分析表明， 该装置将产生电场感应范围的显著增加，以及提供许多其他的优点。 相对于目前的NIBS方法，两年的资助期将用于执行 系统的理论分析，构建装置以提供kHz磁刺激，进行台架试验， 测试，以确认理论估计，并与人类参与者进行初步测试，以评估 该系统用于产生皮层生理学变化的可行性。如果我们的期望得到证实， 系统将为调节神经兴奋性提供一个强大的新工具。

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 cognitive 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 propose to develop a radically new NIBS device, one in which we will apply oscillating magnetic fields at kHZ frequencies. Theoretical analyses indicate that this device will produce a significant increase in the range of E-field induction, as well as provide a number of other advantages, relative to current NIBS methods. The two-year funding period will be used to perform the theoretical analysis of the system, construct the device to deliver kHz magnetic stimulation, perform bench tests to confirm theoretical estimates, and conduct initial testing with human participants to assess the feasibility of the system for producing changes in cortical physiology. If our expectations are confirmed, this system will provide a powerful new tool for modulating neural excitability.