Studying the Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Near Infrared Spectroscopy

The aim of this study is to use near infrared spectroscopy to examine the mechanism of action of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). rTMS is an increasingly used neuroscience and as a treatment tool but there is limited information with which to optimize stimulation protocols outside of motor cortex. The only way to do this is to conduct repeated and lengthy comparative studies in humans or animals. This study will clearly define the optimal methods for inducing short and medium term changes in brain function with rTMS with relevance to human and animal research. This will bypass lengthy studies improving its use in neuroscience and other applications. This will ultimately enhance outcomes in neuropsychiatric diseases