Understanding how transcranial magnetic stimulation affects brain circuits
Official title: Biology and Biophysics of the Cortical Response to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Funded at Duke University · NIH-10878912 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) affects brain activity, using advanced tools to learn more about how it works, with the goal of improving TMS for people with brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $590,562 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS117405-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10878912 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals suffering from depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and migraines, as well as other brain disorders that may respond to TMS.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that are not responsive to TMS or those who do not have access to TMS therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on brain circuits, particularly focusing on how it modulates neural activity in the brain. By using advanced techniques such as direct recordings from neurons and computational simulations, the study aims to uncover the fine-scale mechanisms of TMS that are currently not well understood. This knowledge could lead to better-targeted TMS protocols for treating various brain disorders. The research primarily involves non-human primates to gain insights that can eventually benefit human patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved TMS protocols that enhance treatment outcomes for patients with brain disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using TMS for various brain disorders, but this specific approach to understanding the underlying mechanisms is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sommer, Marc a — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Sommer, Marc a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Noninvasive brain stimulation to reduce hyperexcitability in a Fragile X rat model
A small animal study tests whether low-frequency rTMS can calm overactive brain activity and improve thinking-style tasks in a rat model of Fragile X and autism.
-
Accurate, low-cost trackerless neuronavigation for TMS
A low-cost, trackerless computer-vision system to guide transcranial magnetic stimulation by precisely locating brain targets on each patient.
-
Sequential treatment additions to help long-term opioid therapy patients feel better
A multi-step approach tests adding low-dose buprenorphine, cognitive behavioral therapy, and brain stimulation to improve pain and quality of life for people on long-term opioid therapy without forcing a taper.
-
High-frequency brain stimulation for trigeminal neuropathic pain
A large, multi-site trial tests a non-invasive brain stimulation method to relieve chronic facial nerve pain for adults who have not found relief from other treatments.
-
Modulating how the brain processes thinking about others in autism with noninvasive brain stimulation
This project tests whether a noninvasive brain treatment (rTMS) can adjust brain activity linked to understanding others’ thoughts and feelings in adults with autism.
-
Closed-loop prefrontal TMS guided by real-time EEG in primates
A study tests a brain-guided TMS approach that uses real-time EEG to tailor stimulation to the prefrontal cortex, starting in non-human primates with the goal of improving future treatments for psychiatric disorders.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.