TMS lab

The Manchester Brain Stimulation Lab (MBSL) uses non-invasive brain stimulation techniques: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation ( tES: tDCS, tACS) to study the relationship between brain and behaviour. Brain stimulation is a set of methods used in cognitive neuroscience research and clinical practice to activate or modulate neuronal activity in the brain. We combine non-invasive brain stimulation with other imaging methods, such as EEG, fMRI, MRS to study healthy, developing, aging and damaged brains in order to investigate the involvement of different brain areas in cognitive processes and develop treatment applications.

Current research projects investigate the semantic memory, emotional similarity, neural networks in spoken and sign language, inner speech and working memory. We have a number of international collaborations for developing neurostimulation application paradigms with Columbia University New York, USA (schizophrenia), Kyoto University, Japan (tool use in semantic dementia), University of Western Ontario, Canada (second language learning/bilingualism) and IDOR Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (reward processing).  MBSL is run by Gorana Pobric from Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology.

Equipment

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) facilities include a system for repetitive and patterned offline protocols (including theta-burst stimulation), a Brainsight neuronavigantional system, MR-compatible tES systems with waveform generation capabilities that allow novel tES protocols to be trialled and implemented.

 

Interested in TMS?

Please contact Dr. Gorana Pobric for more information.