Home Department: Chemistry
Mentor: Claudia Padula (Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences)

“Efficient Implementation of Novel Methods for Measuring Scalp to Cortex Distance”

Current treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD) result in nearly 2/3 of patients relapsing within 6 months. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, is an emerging treatment option for AUD. TMS efficacy is directly dependent on the distance between the brain and scalp. Importantly, AUD is associated with brain atrophy, which likely lengthens scalp-to-cortex distance and may reduce TMS efficacy. Riley’s project will entail assisting in developing novel methods for measuring the scalp-to-cortex distance among AUD patients. This work will inform future TMS protocols and enable patient tailoring of stimulation strength.