Ultrafast Controllable Pulse Stimulator

• Subject Area: Neurosciences
• Term: Funded in 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 233792989

“Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) allows non-invasive modulation of cortical excit-ability and plasticity in man. Variation of physical parameters (repetition frequency, pulse intensity, number of pulses, shape of pulse, intervals, phase of pulses) allow to guide aftereffects towards selective excitation or inhibition. Many constraints of available devices so far have restricted the exploration of the importance of the variables repetition frequency, shape, intervals and phase. The new device will provide freely programmable pulse series extending the upper frequency limit from available devices from 100 Hz to 1 kHz providing any freedom from paired pulse paradigms to 1 kHz rTMS. With its aid we want to target (i) the importance of duration and number of intervals to generalize existing patterned paradigms (Quadripulse, Theta-burst, Octopulse) and develop new more selective and optimized protocols of rTMS (ii) plastic effects of low intensity higher repetition frequencies up to 1 kHz for achieving lasting inhibition (iii) irregular stimulation protocols (iv) the importance of pulse shape (monophasic, biphasic, multiphasic) for interference with resonance phenomena of local neuronal circuits (v) the importance of interference with back propagating potentials (vi) resolve discrepancies between TMS and rTMS effects and aftereffects at rest and under activation.”

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Ultrafast Controllable Pulse Stimulator
• Instrumentation Group: 3400 Nervenreizgeräte
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen; Universitätsmedizin Göttingen
• Leader: Professor Dr. Walter Paulus