Dr Andreas Horn | Connectomic Brain Stimulation

The process of perturbing neural activity – neuromodulation – is a growing field of modern-day neuroscience. Invasive methods such as deep brain stimulation and noninvasive methods such as transcranial magnetic stimulation are successfully used to treat patients or to answer scientifically motivated questions.

The way we investigate how neuromodulation impacts the brain is currently undergoing a paradigm-shift. Instead of solely focusing on the impact on localized modulation targets, we increasingly monitor network changes of the brain and their impact on clinical and behavioral results. These analyses involve combining neuromodulation with brain connectivity information that is often derived from advanced magnetic resonance imaging data. This interface between neuromodulation and brain connectomics is a growing and promising field that may reshape the way we interact with the human brain in scientific and clinical applications.

In this talk, I will review the literature that led to the current state of connectomic neuromodulation and present results and opportunities that this field may offer. While focusing on clinically applied invasive neuromodulation methods, I touch upon relevant noninvasive applications and the ones addressing cognitive neuroscience questions. Finally, I outline future perspectives and address a multitude of questions that could motivate studies to come.