Project Description

Cognitive impairments are observed in patients across neuropsychiatric disorders, like neurodevelopmental disorders, psychosis, and neurodegenerative disorders. Often, cognitive changes start long before the specific symptoms associated with these disorders. Cognitive abilities are also the best predictors of day-to-day functioning and quality of life in patients. However, there are limited effective treatment options available to improve cognitive functions.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses magnetic pulses to non-invasively modulate brain activity. TMS is well tolerated and is NICE-approved for the treatment of depression, with emerging evidence for improvement in cognitive functions. Finding ways to improve the reliability and strength of clinical response to TMS is a critical research avenue.

TMS targets superficial cortical regions, but it is argued that its clinical impact arises due to propagation of neuromodulatory effects from the superficial target to deeper connected brain regions. Transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique that is able to directly target deeper brain areas than TMS using high-frequency sound waves. It may be that tFUS delivered before or during TMS could prime a deeper brain region, increasing its receptivity to propagated effects of TMS.

In this project, the student will work to identify promising candidate approaches for dual TMS-tFUS neuromodulation. They will study the mechanisms of action of these approaches using functional brain imaging techniques (EEG, MRI).

Working closely with lived experience experts, the student will move from studies in healthy volunteers to proof of concept studies with patients. They will seek to understand patient experiences of dual neuromodulation, and identify the best ways to deliver tFUS-TMS approaches. Towards the end of their PhD, the student will contribute to the design of a future clinical trial of the most promising approach.