Mental health conditions and chronic pain are highly prevalent, result in significant morbidity and mortality, and by and large lack treatments which are widely and highly effective. Development of novel approaches to treatment are urgently needed. Non-invasive brain stimulation approaches hold significant potential in the treatment of these disorders. Brain stimulation uses electricity to modulate neuronal firing patterns, this can be achieved in a number of ways including via direct electrical stimulation through electrodes placed on the scalp (transcranial Electrical Stimulation [tES]) or by inducing an electrical current in the brain via the application of highly focussed magnetic fields to the head (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation [TMS]). Brain stimulation, namely TMS, is a well-established treatment for depression and has shown promising effects across a number of other mental health conditions. However, the effects of brain stimulation could be greatly improved through a better understanding of what type of brain activity in which brain regions to target in order to improve people’s symptoms.
Therefore, the aim of this research is to use a data driven approach to identify targets for brain stimulation treatment in a number of mental health conditions as well as chronic pain. We will do this through the use of sophisticated data analysis of comprehensive imaging and behavioural data.
Using this type of data driven approach to identify therapuetic targets will greatly enhance the progress of non-invasive brain stimulation treatment development across mental health conditions and chronic pain. The development of effective treatments for these conditions would have a significant and global positive impact.
