# Non-invasive Radio Frequency Stimulation of Neurons and Networks

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $546,632

## Abstract

Abstract
Nonivasive stimulation of the brain in health and disease is an important goal of the Brain Initiative. Current
methods include Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Transcranial Electric Stimulation (TES) and
Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation (TFUS). The mechanisms of the perturbation effects are not well
understood. We hypothesize that Transcranial Radio Frequency Stimulation (TRFS; 900 MHz to few GHz),
when using appropriate frequency, power and stimulation regimes, can offer a safe experimental and clinical
tool that can combine advantages of the existing noninvasive perturbation methods with potentially fewer side
effects. We propose to examine the membrane, single unit, circuit, and circuit modification mechanism of
TRFS.
We designed a set of experiments to examine non-thermal, electric field-induced effects of RF stimulation in
behaving rodents, with the goal of establishing safe margins of stimulation patterns and RF power for effective
driving of neuronal activity at the single neuron and circuit levels, using state-of-the-art optical and large-scale
electrophysiological and electronic techniques combined with modeling of RF effects. The first goal is to
establish safe parameters of homogeneous RF fields, which can effectively entrain cortical and subcortical
neurons with no or negligible thermal effects even after long-term exposure. Second, exclude any potential
non-thermal artifacts (such as cochlear-mediated or 'metal-in-the-brain' effects) and other periphery-mediated
effects. The third important milestone is to identify the membrane channels involved in the RF-induced field
effects. Finally, we will examine the spatially focused effects of RF stimulation by using directionally acting
antenna(s). The feasibility of the project is supported by extensive preliminary findings. Our data and know-
how will be made available to qualified researchers. TRFS will facilitate discovery science and its future human
application is expected to become invaluable in the treatment of multiple psychiatric and neurological
conditions.
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10864989
- **Project number:** 5R01NS113782-05
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** GYORGY BUZSAKI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $546,632
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10864989

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10864989, Non-invasive Radio Frequency Stimulation of Neurons and Networks (5R01NS113782-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10864989. Licensed CC0.

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