Projects: Cranial-nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM)
TCNL has completed an initial program of research to explore the use of a new method of rehabilitation for neurological disease. For further information, see our background page on CN-NINM.
Our efforts were focused in three directions:
- Exploration of conditions potentially treatable by CN-NINM, including initially movement disorders caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease.
- Exploring the brain regions involved in CN-NIMM. We are currently using two approaches:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), in collaboration with Prof. Beth Meyerand in the UW Department of Medical Physics.
- Electroencephalography (EEG), in collaboration with Prof. Justin Williams in the UW department of Biomedical Engineering.
- Developing the theoretical bases for understanding the mechanisms of CN-NINM.
Results are reported in "Cranial-nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM) effects on cortical and sub-cortical activity as measured with BOLD-fMRI," a poster given at the 2008 Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting (6 MB PDF file)
Calls for human subject volunteers will be announced on our subject contact page.
This research is ongoing, please follow TCNL progress on the Publicity, Lectures, and Scientific Publications pages.