# A Kilohertz-Frequency, Continuous-Wave Transcranial Magnetic  Stimulator to Increase the Dynamic Range of Subthreshold Neuromodulation

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · 2020 · $78,848

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has attracted considerable interest in the cognitive neuroscience
community, providing an important basic research tool to study brain function, with emerging clinical
applications to enhance cognitive function in individuals with neurological disorders. Despite this potential, an
emerging literature has highlighted concerns regarding the reliability and robustness of transcranial electric
stimulation (tES), the primary NIBS method used to induce changes in brain plasticity through the application
of subthreshold stimulation. These problems are likely related to the fact that tES systems can only induce
modest electrical fields (E-field) at the cortical surface given that safety/tolerance issues limit the intensity of
tES stimulation that can be delivered at the scalp. We propose to develop a radically new NIBS device, one in
which we will apply oscillating magnetic fields at kHZ frequencies. Theoretical analyses indicate that this
device will produce a significant increase in the range of E-field induction, as well as provide a number of other
advantages, relative to current NIBS methods. The two-year funding period will be used to perform the
theoretical analysis of the system, construct the device to deliver kHz magnetic stimulation, perform bench
tests to confirm theoretical estimates, and conduct initial testing with human participants to assess the
feasibility of the system for producing changes in cortical physiology. If our expectations are confirmed, this
system will provide a powerful new tool for modulating neural excitability.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10021664
- **Project number:** 5R21EB028075-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD IVRY
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $78,848
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10021664

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10021664, A Kilohertz-Frequency, Continuous-Wave Transcranial Magnetic  Stimulator to Increase the Dynamic Range of Subthreshold Neuromodulation (5R21EB028075-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10021664. Licensed CC0.

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