Controllable stimulation and Advanced brain models for Enhancing Rehabilitation from Unconscious States (project “CAERUS”)
Brain stimulation is used to probe brain function, support diagnosis, and treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. Yet its effects can vary substantially even when identical stimulation is delivered to the same target, limiting reproducibility and potentially clinical efficacy. Understanding and controlling this variability could therefore make brain stimulation more reliable and effective. I will first present experimental evidence showing that the response to a single electrical pulse depends strongly on the state of the brain immediately before stimulation [1]. I will then focus on how personalized brain models can be used to explore where, when, and how to stimulate [2]. Using models trained on individual fMRI data, we show that stimulation responses depend on both the target and ongoing global brain activity. Timing stimulation according to brain state and stimulating specific pairs of regions can reduce response variability and improve the consistency of stimulation effects. I will close by discussing how these approaches could contribute to more reliable perturbational assessments and interventions in disorders of consciousness.
[1] Rabuffo, G. et al. Brain Stimulation 19, 103118 (2026).
[2] Rabuffo, G. et al. bioRxiv (2026). doi:10.64898/2026.07.16.738930
This IFISC Seminar will be broadcasted in the following zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89466064429?pwd=po9p99eAEYVPaNI8xIIGoOIz0hOqaF.1
Coffee and cookies will be served 15 minutes before the start of the seminar
Detalles de contacto:
Ruben Herzog Contact form