# Integrating Electromagnetic Multifocal Brain Stimulation and Recording Technologies

> **NIH NIH P41** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $262,080

## Abstract

Project Summary
There is an increasing interest in the use of non-invasive electromagnetic stimulation for therapeutic
interventions as well as understanding of the functioning of the healthy human brain. Most of the tradi-
tional protocols involve stimulation of a single target/focus region. However, evidence is mounting that a
wide range of neuronal processing tasks rely on large-scale networks and their synchronization, sug-
gesting that multi-focal stimulation would be a particularly promising avenue for enhanced neuromodu-
lation protocols. Measuring the response of the brain networks to the stimulation is needed to quantify
the effects and therefore concurrent brain mapping methodologies are necessary. To this end, both
EEG and fMRI have been employed previously. We consider that the key to maximizing the potential of
multi-focal scanning stimulation is the integration of the stimulation and imaging recording as it enables
on-line analysis of the brain responses and also allows closed-loop paradigms to be developed. In this
TRD, we leverage on our unique expertise in electromagnetic brain stimulation, imaging, and computa-
tional modeling to provide a set of tools for the scientific community to promote the integration and ap-
plication of multifocal brain imaging and stimulation. Naturally, the single-channel stimulation system
users will benefit from the developed methods as well. In Aim 1, we will optimize the anatomical and
functional MRI acquisition protocols to enable employing our recently published fast and accurate TMS-
induced electric field (E-field) modeling approach to be adopted to computational targeting. In Aim 2,
we will develop software (MNE-TMS), with an interface between the stimulation and recording devices
that enable real-time analysis of the induced activations using our MNE-CPP platform and control of the
stimulating devices. In Aim 3, we will incorporate the geometrical relationships of the neuronal ele-
ments with respect to the stimulating E-fields need to be determined to understand the activations at
mesoscopic and microscopic levels. In particular, we will extend our previously published methods to
allow accurate reconstructions of the white matter bundles as they exit/enter the cortical mantle with of
1 mm resolution in vivo. We will couple the cortical surface geometry reconstructions to simulate the
effects of the E-field on various neuronal elements that will allow us predicting the likelihood of the
stimulus to engage different activation mechanisms/pathways.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10038182
- **Project number:** 1P41EB030006-01
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** MATTI HAMALAINEN
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $262,080
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10038182

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10038182, Integrating Electromagnetic Multifocal Brain Stimulation and Recording Technologies (1P41EB030006-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10038182. Licensed CC0.

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