Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Repetitive Brain Stimulation With Invasive and Noninvasive Electrophysiology in Humans
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an effective treatment for depression, but clinical outcome is suboptimal, partially because investigators are missing biologically-grounded brain markers which show that TMS is modifying activity at the intended target in the brain. The goal of this proposal is to characterize the key markers of the brain's response to repeated doses of TMS with high resolution using invasive brain recordings in humans, and relate these brain markers to noninvasive recordings. These markers will improve the understanding of TMS and can be used to optimize and enhance clinical efficacy for depression and other psychiatric disorders.
• Men and women, ages 18 to 65
• Medication-refractory epilepsy requiring phase II monitoring
• Must have intellectual capacity to ensure adequate comprehension of the study and potential risks involved in order to provide informed consent
• No current or history of major neurological disorders other than epilepsy