Using magnetic fields to enhance brain function and motor skills.
Official title: Exploring the Parameter Space of High Frequency Magnetic Perturbation in Manipulating Neural Excitability and Plasticity.
Funded at Magnetic Tides, INC. · NIH-11090181 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new method using magnetic fields to help improve movement skills, starting with healthy people to see if it's safe and effective before looking at how it affects motor performance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Magnetic Tides, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (El Cerrito, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $99,011 |
| NIH project number | 3R44NS127667-03S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11090181 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include healthy individuals interested in improving their motor skills or those with neurological conditions affecting motor function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with severe neurological impairments or those who are not eligible for non-invasive brain stimulation techniques may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel technique called kilohertz Transcranial Magnetic Perturbation (kTMP), which uses oscillating magnetic fields to modulate neural excitability. The approach aims to improve motor skills by applying these magnetic fields at specific frequencies that are relevant to physiological processes. Initially, the research will assess the safety and effectiveness of kTMP in healthy individuals, followed by behavioral experiments to evaluate its impact on motor performance. The project also includes training for a pre-doctoral student in bioengineering, focusing on the development of a setup for measuring motor task performance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new methods for enhancing motor skills and brain function in patients with neurological conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to enhance motor skills, suggesting that this approach may also be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Magnetic Tides, INC.
El Cerrito, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Labruna, Ludovica — Magnetic Tides, INC.
- Study coordinator: Labruna, Ludovica
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation to Improve Movement After Stroke
A new non-invasive technique called kilohertz Transcranial Magnetic Perturbation (kTMP) is being tested to improve arm movement in people who have chronic stroke.
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Non-invasive brain stimulation to help anhedonia in depression
A new non-invasive brain stimulation method (kTMP) is being tested to help people with major depressive disorder who feel a lack of pleasure.
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Using magnetic fields to enhance brain function.
This study is exploring a new way to use gentle magnetic fields to help improve brain function in people with neurological disorders, and we're looking for participants to see how safe and effective this method is compared to the usual treatments.
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Using magnetic fields to improve brain function and language skills.
This study is exploring a new method using magnetic fields to help improve movement and language skills, especially for people with receptive aphasia, starting with healthy volunteers to ensure it's safe and effective before helping those with language challenges.
-
Using magnetic fields to enhance brain function and plasticity.
This study is exploring a new way to use gentle magnetic fields to help improve brain function in people with neurological disorders, and it aims to see how safe and effective this method is for boosting brain activity and cognitive skills.
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.