Latest Brain Stimulation Techniques

Wouldn't it be cool to be able to stimulate deep within the brain without the need for brain surgery (i.e. DBS), and without actually making a physical lesion in the brain (i.e. focused ultrasound or pallidotomy)? This paper provides 'proof of concept' that a transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) approach may be achievable. Darmani, Chen and colleagues bring us up to speed in Nature Communications. Key Points: - The authors provide an interesting study that examined TUS-induced changes in 10 individuals w/ Parkinson’s and dystonia. - There were also 15 healthy controls. - Physiology and local field potentials were sampled from deep brain stimulation leads w/in the globus pallidus. - Theta burst TUS increased theta power during DBS. - The authors showed 10 Hz TUS enhanced beta power and the effect persisted for ~40 min. - Interestingly, the GPi TUS actually prolonged stop-signal reaction times. There was also impaired response inhibition. My take: What was interesting was that transcranial ultrasound was able to engage a common target (GPi) used for DBS surgery and focused ultrasound. We all remain 'deeply' interested in noninvasive deep brain stimulation as this could open the door for a safer and potentially (one day) a more practical approach for stimulating from 'outside the brain.' The field has a ways to go, but this is a nice early step. It is critically important that the authors were able to show us that TUS was able to 'modulate neural circuits in a spatially precise manner.' We must – respice finem – consider the outcome, when developing the less invasive methods of brain stimulation. I don't think we should be too disappointed with the early results, as this road will be a long but worthwhile journey. https://lnkd.in/dwKfbgse Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases Parkinson's Foundation

🧠Magnetic Minds: Synergistic Approaches with TMS🧲 TMS has revolutionized neurostimulation, but its real power emerges when combined with other cutting-edge technologies. By pairing TMS with complementary modalities, researchers and clinicians are unlocking new possibilities in mental health and cognitive enhancement. 🔹 TMS + Neurofeedback – A Closed-Loop Approach Neurofeedback trains individuals to regulate their brain activity by providing real-time feedback. When combined with TMS, this creates a powerful closed-loop system where stimulation enhances plasticity while neurofeedback fine-tunes neural adaptation. Early studies suggest this duo could optimize treatment for conditions like PTSD, ADHD, and stroke recovery (Schilberg et al., 2017). 🔹 TMS + tDCS – Dual-Mode Brain Stimulation While TMS delivers high-intensity magnetic pulses, tDCS applies a lower electrical current to modulate cortical excitability. Combining the two may enhance neuroplasticity and prolong therapeutic effects. Research indicates that using tDCS before TMS could amplify its impact on cognitive function and motor rehabilitation (Lefaucheur et al., 2021). 🔹 TMS + AI – Smarter Personalization AI-driven models are transforming TMS by analyzing patient data to optimize stimulation targets and frequencies. Rather than relying on standardized protocols, AI can predict individualized TMS responses, improving treatment efficacy for depression and beyond (Siddiqi et al., 2022). 🔹 TMS + VR Therapy – A Multisensory Boost Virtual Reality exposure therapy is a proven method for treating PTSD and anxiety. When paired with TMS, the combination enhances emotional processing and accelerates fear extinction. Clinical trials suggest this approach may improve treatment retention and long-term outcomes (Rizzo et al., 2023). 🔹 TMS + Psychedelics – Unlocking Deeper Change The combination of TMS and psychedelic-assisted therapy could be a game-changer for mental health. Psychedelics enhance neural flexibility, while TMS directs and stabilizes these changes. Early studies suggest this pairing could extend the antidepressant effects of both treatments (Carhart-Harris et al., 2022). The Future is Hybrid 🏥 TMS is no longer just a standalone intervention—it’s becoming a key player in next-generation brain therapy. By combining modalities, we may be entering an era where brain stimulation is more effective, personalized, and accessible than ever before. #BrainStimulation #TMS #Neuromodulation

NEW Deep Brain Stimulation to Treat Memory Loss in Alzheimer’s Disease A new form of deep brain stimulation (#DBS) offers hope as an alternative treatment for #dementia, without surgery. Transcranial Temporal interference (TI) is a non-invasive #electrical stimulation via electrodes placed on the participant's head. Study: 👉 Used electric field modeling to verify that TI can be steerably focused in the #hippocampus 👉 #Neuroimaging (fMRI) & behavioral experiments showed: TI can focally modulate hippocampal activity & enhance episodic memory in healthy humans. Results demonstrate targeted, non-invasive electrical stimulation of deep structures in the #human brain. Future directions New DBS method could provide alternative treatment for brain diseases that affect deep #brain structures, such as #Alzheimer’s disease, and associated memory loss. 👉 A second study led by scientists at the #EPFL independently validated this technique (Nature Neuroscience, Oct 19, 2023). Researchers used the TI #technology to focally stimulate a different deep brain area, striatum, to improve motor #memory function in healthy volunteers. Nature Neuroscience | Oct 19, 2023 -- Links and more info in Comments ---------------------- Inês Violante, Ketevan Alania, Antonino Mario Cassara', PhD; Esra Neufeld, Emma Acerbo, Romain Carron, Adam Williamson, Danielle Kurtin, Edward Rhodes, Adam Hampshire, Niels Kuster, Ed Boyden, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Nir Grossman Imperial College London, UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Surrey, FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, Emory University Hospital, Timone University Hospital, Masaryk University Brno, Aix-Marseille University, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) #innovation #future #healthcare #medicine #health #news #collaboration #startups #clinicalresearch #healthtech #ai #biotech #research #science #communication #neuralnetworks #neurology #personalizedmedicine #stimulation #diagnostics #biomarker #neuromodulation #therapeutics #molecularbiology #therapeutics #engineering #linkedin #neurosciences #global #molecularimaging #MRI #mit #precisionhealth #brainstimulation