New paper and cover: “Focal Modulation of the Primary Motor Cortex in Fibromyalgia Using 4×1-Ring High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation.”

PubMed link and read the PRESS RELEASE at Soterix Medical.

J Pain. 2013 Feb 14. pii: S1526-5900(12)00967-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2012.12.007. [Epub ahead of print]

Focal Modulation of the Primary Motor Cortex in Fibromyalgia Using 4×1-Ring High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS): Immediate and Delayed Analgesic Effects of Cathodal and Anodal Stimulation.

Villamar MF, Wivatvongvana P, Patumanond J, Bikson M, Truong DQ, Datta A, Fregni F.

Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.

Abstract: Fibromyalgia is a prevalent chronic pain syndrome characterized by altered pain and sensory processing in the central nervous system, which is often refractory to multiple therapeutic approaches. Given previous evidence supporting analgesic properties of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques in this condition, this study examined the effects of a novel, more focal method of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), using the 4×1-ring configuration of high-definition (HD)-tDCS, on overall perceived pain in fibromyalgia patients. In this patient- and assessor-blind, sham-controlled, crossover trial, 18 patients were randomized to undergo single 20-minute sessions of anodal, cathodal, and sham HD-tDCS at 2.0 mA in a counterbalanced fashion. The center electrode was positioned over the left primary motor cortex. Pain scales and sensory testing were assessed before and after each intervention. A finite element method brain model was generated to predict electric field distribution. We found that both active stimulation conditions led to significant reduction in overall perceived pain as compared to sham. This effect occurred immediately after cathodal HD-tDCS and was evident for both anodal and cathodal HD-tDCS 30 minutes after stimulation. Furthermore, active anodal stimulation induced a significant bilateral increase in mechanical detection thresholds. These interventions proved well tolerated in our patient population. PERSPECTIVE: 4×1-ring HD-tDCS, a novel noninvasive brain stimulation technique capable of more focal and targeted stimulation, provides significant reduction in overall perceived pain in fibromyalgia patients as compared to sham stimulation, irrespective of current polarity. This technique may have other applications in research and clinical settings, which should be further explored.

Neural Engineering
Prof. Marom Bikson to give series of lectures in Israel

Prof. Marom Bikson to give lectures in Israel (updated Google+ link)

— January 7, 2 PM-3 PM SEMINAR followed by WORKSHOP on tDCS and HD-tDCS

“Transcranial direct current stimulation: Devices, therapies and clinical trials”

The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center at Bar-Ilan University, Israel

Directions and details here

— Jan 13, 2 PM

“High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Non-invasive and targeted neuromodulation.”

Abstract: High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) was developed by Prof. Marom Bikson and colleagues at The City College of New York in 2006.  HD-tDCS allows for delivery of low-intensity electrical current to targeted brain regions, is low-cost, portable, and well-tolerated.  HD-tDCS uses arrays of scalp electrodes, energized according to subject specific algorithms, to deliver current in an optimized and safe manner. HD-tDCS is under clinical trial for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders (including neuropathic pain) for stroke rehabilitation (including motor and speech) and as a neuromodulation tool for cognitive neuroscience (including accelerated learning). The technology and applications of HD-tDCS are reviewed.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel University Link

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Neural Engineering
The Neural Engineering Group

(Not included in picture: Devin Adair, Nigel Gebodh, Akshita Chawla, Doris Ling)

CCNY Neural Engineering Group

The Neural Engineering Group at The City College of New York analyzes nervous system function at multiple scales spanning sub-cellular, single cell, tissue, animal, to human cognitive levels.  Similarly, our translational research and development program integrates experimental testing, medical device development, and clinical trials – with the over-arching goal of improving human health through engineering innovation.

In the Media

Lukas Hirsch

Lukas will work in computer vision on biomedical images.

Maximilian Nentwich

Max will work on biomedical image processing and machine learning.

Ivan Iotzov

Ivan is analyzing the EEG responses to naturalistic stimuli in the context of hearing loss and disordered consciousness.

Forouzan Farahani

Forouzan will work on the effects of direct current stimulation on synaptic plasticity.

Devin Adair

Devin is a Ph.D. student studying Cognitive Psychology at The Graduate Center of The City University of New York


Zeinab Esmaeilpour

Ph.D. student, Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York (2017-present)

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uuZoNToAAAAJ&hl=en

Gozde Unal

Phd. Biomedical Engineering , The City College of City University of New York (NY,USA) (2017-Present);

MSc. Biomedical Engineering (minor : Industrial

Niranjan Khadka

Currently studying temperature related mechanism of action of kHz Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) and coupled vascular hypothesis of tDCS.

Greg Kronberg

PhD candidate, Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York (2015-Present)

Jason Ki

PhD candicate in Biomedical Engineering CCNY

M.S Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York (2012-2014)

Dennis Truong

PhD in Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York (2013-Present)


Events and Seminars

Prakhyat Singh

Prakhyat will be working towards understanding the effects of transcranial electrical stimulation on brain activity.

Neural Engineering Research Application

Jens Madsen

Jens is currently working on investigating the connection between attention and education using electro-encephalography.

Yu (Andy) Huang


Contact: andypotatohy@gmail.com

Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, City College of New




Neural Engineering
New Book Chapter in Transcranial Brain Stimulation
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New book chapter (Cellular and Network Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Insights from Animal Models and Brain Slice) in Transcranial Brain Stimulation by Professor Marom Bikson, Davide Reato, and Asif Rahman provides insights into the mechanisms of transcranial brain stimulation from the cellular effects of electrical stimulation in animal models and brain slices. This chapter addresses the contribution of animal research on direct current (DC) stimulation to current understanding of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) mechanisms and prospects and pitfalls for ongoing translational research. Though we attempt to put in perspective key experiments in animals from the 1960s to the present, our goal is not an exhaustive cataloging of relevant animal studies, but rather to put them in the context of ongoing effort to improve tDCS. Similarly, though we point out essential features of meaningful animal studies, we refer readers to original work for methodological details. Though tDCS produces specific clinical neurophysiological changes and is therapeutically promising, fundamental questions remain about the mechanisms of tDCS and on the optimization of dose. As a result, a majority of clinical studies using tDCS employ a simplistic dose strategy where “excitability” is increased or decreased under the anode and cathode respectively. We discuss how this strategy, itself based on classic animal studies, may not account for the complexity of normal and pathological brain function, and how recent studies have already indicated more sophisticated approaches.

Neural Engineering