# Bilateral Brain Dynamics Supporting Cognition in Normal Aging and Dementia

> **NIH NIH K01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $53,856

## Abstract

Project Summary
This is an application for an Administrative Supplement award to an existing project, Using fMRI-guided TMS
to increase central executive function in older adults. This award will provide our team with the support
necessary to extend our existing EEG-TMS paradigm to patients with a prodromal form of Alzheimer’s Disease
(AD) known as amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and investigate the role of brain health factors in
mediating the TMS-related memory performance benefits associated with communication between a network
of frontoparietal brain regions in these populations.
 The main goal of the project is to address develop a novel approach to memory-based neurostimulation
therapies. Neurostimulation affects multiple sites within a cortical network, but these global effects have not been
used as targets for stimulation because of limited knowledge about what influence these localized sites have on
global changes in brain state. To address this problem, we will use multimodal neuroimaging tools and network
modeling approaches developed though the parent U01 project, to demonstrate how focal neurostimulation
improves the efficacy of TMS for enhancing memory function. These goals will be addressed in the Administrative
Supplement under our three specific aims. In Aim 1, Dr. Davis will establish the spatial specificity of bilateral
brain mechanisms with combination of behavior and high-resolution structural neuroimaging in cortical sites
known to be active during memory encoding. In Aim 2, Dr. Davis will establish the underlying dynamics of
interhemispheric frontal communication using a novel combination of single-sided TMS, rTMS entraining
conditions, and electroencephalography (EEG) to establish the coordinated activity between the hemispheres;
Lastly, in Aim 3, Dr. Davis will use the rTMS entraining parameters delineated in Aim 2 to promote specific cross-
hemispheric communication, applied to participants performing a Word Encoding task, a general task of memory
performance. The ongoing work will provide an important tool for studying the dynamics of network connectivity
of memory states in the aging brain, as well as new information on the effectiveness of brain stimulation
technologies as a therapeutic approach for cognitive decline.
 The parent K01 project has made foundational advances towards these goals, as we have demonstrated
the ability of to selectively modulate memory-related neural functions in healthy older adults and MCI. The
project has proceeded successfully through Years 1-3, with multiple conference publications and prepared
manuscripts, and the achievement of developmental goals in Clinical and Electrophysiology didactics.
However, as outlined in the Budget Justification, the project has incurred a number of unanticipated costs, and
in order to complete the project we request additional funds through this Supplement. The scientific goals and
approach remain unchanged from the original proposal.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10136968
- **Project number:** 3K01AG053539-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Simon W Davis
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $53,856
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10136968

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10136968, Bilateral Brain Dynamics Supporting Cognition in Normal Aging and Dementia (3K01AG053539-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10136968. Licensed CC0.

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