TMS-fNIRS Package

INCLUDES: NIRX NIRSPORT2, DUOMAG MP-DUAL, BRAINSIGHT NEURONAVIGATION, SATORI SOFTWARE, NIRXWINGS2 MODULE

The TMS-fNIRS Package integrates three state-of-the-art hardware systems and a software analysis program for advanced brain stimulation and neurophysiological monitoring.

• TMS System: The DuoMAG MP-Dual provides fully programmable paired-pulse stimulation through a single coil, offering precise control over inter-stimulus intervals and output intensity. It's designed for research into cortical inhibition and facilitation, and ideal for probing intracortical dynamics.
• fNIRS System: The NIRx NIRSport2 system is a fNIRS solution designed for researchers requiring high signal quality, modular expandability, and real-time data acquisition. With its flexible configuration and lightweight, wearable design, the NIRSport2 enables seamless neuroimaging in a wide range of applications, including TMS integration.
• Neuronavigation System: Brainsight Navigation delivers stereotactic precision for TMS coil positioning using subject-specific MRI data. This ensures reproducibility, accuracy, and confidence in targeting cortical areas for stimulation.
• Analysis Software: Satori is an intuitive, powerful fNIRS analysis software designed to simplify complex workflows, offering full control over data processing through an easy-to-use graphical interface. With built-in statistical tools, real-time visualisation, multi-subject support, and optional Python integration, Satori streamlines your analysis from raw data to results.

Dual-Pulse Stimulation With DuoMAG MP-Dual

The DuoMAG MP-Dual is a paired pulse TMS system combining two DuoMAG MP TMS stimulators to provide a fully configurable paired pulse TMS system.

Some key advantages of DuoMAG MP-Dual include:

• Allows for independent control over paired pulses for advanced TMS paradigms
• Adjustable timing and output intensity to investigate interhemispheric and intracortical circuits
• A boosted output mode delivering pulses equivalent to 134% of a single stimulator’s capacity to further support demanding stimulation protocols
• Flexible dual-pulse configuration for sub- and supra-threshold studies
• CE-certification, ensuring reliability and research-grade safety
• Enhanced output intensity via software-based boosting for high-demand protocols

Functional Neuroimaging with NIRx NIRSport2:

The NIRSport2 is an fNIRS recording system that provides a versatile and reliable platform for investigating brain function in real-world settings.

Key features of the NIRSport2 include:

• Advanced optode technology that delivers precise haemodynamic measurements with exceptional signal-to-noise ratio
• Configurable system that can meet the demands of any study, from small-scale experiments to large, multi-subject recordings
• Lightweight and untethered design allows for unrestricted movement and naturalistic task paradigms
• Capturing and processing data instantly for adaptive paradigms and brain-computer interface applications
• A platform allowing for seamless integration with additional systems for potential research expansions, such as collecting physiological data with the NIRxWINGS2
• Intuitive interface with real-time visualisation and powerful data processing tools

Accurate Targeting with Brainsight TMS Navigation

The Brainsight Neuronavigation system delivers real-time, MRI-guided navigation for precise TMS coil placement. 

• Precise tracking of coil position and orientation relative to individual anatomy, ensuring accurate, consistent stimulation across sessions and subjects
• Visualisation of cortical targets and stimulation pathways in 3D
• Intuitive, real-time feedback on coil placement and orientation
• Built-in default brain templates for study protocols that do not allow for participant-specific MRI scans
• Trusted by leading labs worldwide for stereotactic precision and reproducibility

Effortless Analyses with the Satori Analysis Software

Satori Analysis Software is a user-friendly and robust fNIRS analysis platform that brings clarity and control to every stage of your data processing pipeline. With Satori fNIRS Analysis Software, you can: 

• Easily view and interact with data at every step of the process
• Perform advanced fNIRS analysis without writing a single line of code
• Access popular preprocessing and statistical tools, including GLM and block averaging, all in one place
• Run group-level analyses with synchronised workflows
• Easily select parameters, exclude channels or epochs, and inspect individual trial data
• Generate clear, informative brain activity maps
• Extend functionality or embed your own scripts within the workflow
• Automate batch processing, replicate pipelines, and collaborate across projects

TMS-FNIRS IN PRACTISE

Integrating fNIRS and TMS can yield exciting advancements in clinical and research settings. This method comes with many advantages over other methods, although there are some notable challenges to overcome when integrating these two systems.

Applications in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience

While integrating fNIRS and TMS is still relatively new in the fields of cognitive and clinical neuroscience, research thus far has applied this combination with the rationale that:

• fNIRS is a more direct way to investigate cortical brain activation patterns during repetitive TMS (rTMS) treatment sessions
• fNIRS is a potential biomarker to assess or predict the outcome of rTMS treatments
• TMS mapping can identify optimal locations for fNIRS optode placement
• Cortical activation patterns identified by fNIRS can guide TMS stimulation sites
• fNIRS can determine the effects of rTMS in distinct brain regions without quantifiable behavioural changes