# Simultaneous functional MRI and Micro-Magnetic Nervous System Stimulation

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2021 · $2,178,059

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Micromagnetic stimulation (µMS) has several advantages over electrical stimulation. First, µMS does not
require charge-balanced stimulation waveforms as in electrical stimulation. In µMS, neither sinks nor sources
are present when the time-varying magnetic field induces a current. Thus µMS does not suffer from charge
buildup as can occur with electrical stimulation. Second, magnetic stimulation via µMS is capable of activating
neurons with specific axonal orientations. Third, it is contactless, so biocompatible materials such as parylene
will allow implantation with minimal or no reaction. Moreover, as the probes can be insulated entirely from the
brain tissue, we show to significantly reduce the problem of excessive power deposition into the tissue during
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
 In this application, we propose to design, fabricate, and test microcoil structures for next-generation
Nervous System Stimulation: the micro coils arrays will be designed for cortical stimulation like ECoGs and
deep brain stimulation. The array will be novel in the sense that it will allocate optical fibers to perform onsite
optogenetic calcium channels recording in awake and behaving animals, thus allowing for direct study of the
underlying mechanisms of magnetic stimulation. All the micromagnetic stimulators will also be MRI compatible,
allowing for large scale neural recordings with fMRI. This technology will serve Neuroscience research—
investigating the function of neurons and neural networks in the peripheral and central nervous system (PNS
and CNS)—enhancing or creating new applications for neuromodulation. All of these applications will allow us
to employ neuromodulation and study how micromagnetic field pulses can be used for stimulating or blocking
the flow of Action Potentials (APs) through the nervous system, as similarly transcranial magnetic stimulation
(TMS) produces excitation and inhibition. The proposed µMS tools will also provide the community with a way
to reach a more in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of actions of TMS.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10154562
- **Project number:** 1R01NS120594-01
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Ilknur Ay
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2,178,059
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-06-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10154562

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10154562, Simultaneous functional MRI and Micro-Magnetic Nervous System Stimulation (1R01NS120594-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10154562. Licensed CC0.

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