Speaker
Paul Sajda, Ph.D.
Date
Location
University of Houston
Abstract
Precision and personalized delivery of neurostimulation, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is
believed to be critical for the effective treatment of psychiatric diseases such as major depressive disorder
(MDD). In this talk, I will present our work that uses an integrated instrument consisting of simultaneous fMRI,
EEG, and TMS (which we term “fET”) to determine the precise timing of TMS stimulation to deliver to an
individual in order to maximize engagement of the therapeutic target—in this case, the anterior cingulate
cortex. I will present results from a double-blind clinical trial that uses the fET instrument to set individualized
parameters of a closed-loop EEG-TMS neurostimulator for treating MDD. We demonstrate that this closedloop
precision delivery of stimulation, which is matched to specific brain dynamics, affects brain dynamics,
functional and effective connectivity, and, ultimately, the clinical outcome of the treatment. Our approach
enables new types of non-invasive neural therapeutics that are personalized to an individual as well as a
disease or condition.
believed to be critical for the effective treatment of psychiatric diseases such as major depressive disorder
(MDD). In this talk, I will present our work that uses an integrated instrument consisting of simultaneous fMRI,
EEG, and TMS (which we term “fET”) to determine the precise timing of TMS stimulation to deliver to an
individual in order to maximize engagement of the therapeutic target—in this case, the anterior cingulate
cortex. I will present results from a double-blind clinical trial that uses the fET instrument to set individualized
parameters of a closed-loop EEG-TMS neurostimulator for treating MDD. We demonstrate that this closedloop
precision delivery of stimulation, which is matched to specific brain dynamics, affects brain dynamics,
functional and effective connectivity, and, ultimately, the clinical outcome of the treatment. Our approach
enables new types of non-invasive neural therapeutics that are personalized to an individual as well as a
disease or condition.