We will start with a historical background of transcranial magnetic and electrical stimulation. Since NIBS can be used for a wide range of applications, it is critical to choose the optimal modality, protocol and parameters for each application. After providing an overview of the applications, we will discuss the neurophysiological and clinical effects of different parameters and protocols, individually for each modality. We will use a number of examples from the literature to illustrate the effects. While the main focus of this course is human applications, we will also provide a short overview of animal and in vitro research which has been instrumental in understanding the mechanisms underlying NIBS effects.
In the next set of lectures, we will discuss practical aspects including safety and study design. Over 40 years of research has shown that NIBS is very safe and has minimal side effects. However, careful screening and choice of participants or patients, and close attention to parameters is essential for safety. We will discuss potential risks and ways to mitigate them in detail. Thereafter, we will discuss study design which, in addition to safety, is crucial for ensuring that researchers can make the inferences they would like to make with reasonable confidence. We will specifically discuss variations in the experimental set-up, and effective choice of controls.
The last set of lectures will cover advanced and cutting-edge topics. Specifically, we will discuss how NIBS can be combined with other methods like electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging. Such combined techniques allow us to measure the neural effects of NIBS more directly, and also to optimize the stimulation in a state-dependent manner. We will also provide an introduction to transcranial ultrasonic stimulation, and novel types of magnetic and electrical stimulation, which are being actively researched right now. Finally, a number of researchers and clinicians from the VU will briefly present their current work.
The course will include lectures, lab sessions and group discussions. All lectures will be designed to allow adequate time for questions and discussion. During lab sessions students will be exposed to a range of transcranial magnetic stimulation devices, and a simple transcranial electrical stimulation device. For both modalities, students have an opportunity to practice a few basic procedures themselves. This will provide a basis upon which they can then seek further practice, including some supervised practice, before running studies themselves. We will point them to a recent publication which elaborates on all the competencies required for running a NIBS study.
Early in the week we have planned a discussion session during which we ask students to introduce themselves, and briefly tell us why they choose this course and what they expect to get from it. Throughout the course, we will encourage students to think about how the presented information can be used to design their own study, and ask questions accordingly. The assessment is also designed specifically to test whether students are able to use the information from the lectures and lab visits to develop a well-designed study.
