About this Research Topic
The aim of this Research Topic is to compile a series of Original Research and Review articles showcasing novel or advancing established combinations of neuroimaging/neurophysiological methods with various NIBS protocols for studying physiological and pathological states of the brain. Specifically, we encourage the contribution of papers covering one or several of the following topics:
1. Multimodal approaches to understanding mechanisms of NIBS:
Many of the underlying physiological mechanisms and effects of NIBS techniques are still poorly understood. Multimodal approaches can foster our understanding of NIBS techniques by providing new vistas on their effects and mechanisms. These may consist of pairing less frequently used recording modalities with NIBS, or novel analysis approaches towards NIBS effects.
2. Individually tailored or closed-loop stimulation:
It is known that NIBS effects are often weak and highly variable. Using neuroimaging/neurophysiological data to design individually tailored and/or closed-loop NIBS protocols (e.g. allowing for state-dependent stimulation of the brain) may substantially increase the effects and reliability of NIBS.
3. Challenges and pitfalls of combining neuroimaging/electrophysiology and NIBS:
Combining neuroimaging or electrophysiology with NIBS can often be challenging due to large artifacts in the acquired signals. In order to allow for valid interpretations of such recordings, problems, pitfalls, and limitations of multimodal approaches need to be openly discussed and acknowledged. Novel recording or analysis strategies may allow to overcome such shortcomings but require careful evaluation.
Together these studies will showcase the current spectrum and potential of multimodal approaches in NIBS as well as their imminent challenges, ideally offering researchers in the field, new perspectives on NIBS and thereby insights for more effective protocols for diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Keywords: TMS-EEG, closed-loop stimulation, tACS, tDCS, tFUS, DBS-TMS
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.