Global Exchange on Circuit Therapies and Emerging Neurostimulation Tools at Kobe Brain Stimulation Conference 2025

Global Exchange on Circuit Therapies and Emerging Neurostimulation Tools at Kobe Brain Stimulation Conference 2025

The Brain Stimulation Conference in Kobe (Japan) offered a vibrant international forum for in-depth exploration of neurostimulation across research domains. Bringing together researchers from around the world, the event reflected the diversity of approaches in the field—from invasive to non-invasive techniques—and the broad range of applications across neurological, psychiatric, and basic neuroscience.

A central theme was the shared interest in optimizing circuit-based therapies and neuromodulation strategies across disease boundaries. This inspired engaging discussions and fostered a rich academic exchange.

Hot Topics in Neurostimulation

One of the emerging areas highlighted was transcranial ultrasound stimulation (tUS). Presenters shared insights into its mechanistic and methodological foundations and explored its potential for clinical application and further optimization.

Charlotte Stagg discussed how advanced neuromodulation tools such as tUS, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) offer high spatial and temporal resolution for studying brain function. She emphasized the relevance of beta-band dynamics in motor learning and its implications for stroke rehabilitation.

Zelma Kiss presented recent advances in the treatment of dystonia using both invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation approaches. Her presentation covered the potential of cerebellar deep brain stimulation (DBS), particularly targeting the dentatorubrothalamic tract, and promising early results from transcranial focused ultrasound (t-FUS) as a non-invasive alternative. The importance of rigorous mechanistic research for the safe and effective clinical translation of these methods was also discussed.

Andreas Horn, a former group member and CRC PI (principal investigator), received the Early Career Award for his contributions to circuitopathies and transdiagnostic connectomic research.

ReTune Contributions and Experience

Lucia Feldmann chaired a symposium on transdiagnostic biomarkers for non-motor symptoms, which featured presentations by Helen Mayberg on DBS for depression, Valerie Voon on alpha DBS for shifting positive valence attribution, and Colin Hoy on reward processing in prefrontal and subthalamic electrophysiology, including theta tracking of reward prediction errors.

This symposium was paired with a second transdiagnostic session on evoked activity, which included discussions on ERNA dynamics and the potential of ERNA to predict later optimal stimulation contacts, as suggested by Kara Johnson.

Lucia Feldmann also delivered a second talk on biomarkers in local field potential recordings in Parkinson’s disease, as part of a symposium organized by the ADPAT consortium (Berlin–Copenhagen–Lund).

Jennifer Behnke presented a case report exploring how specific deep brain stimulation parameters can influence motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Another member of the SFB consortium, Jan Rödiger, presented a predictive model for stimulation-induced motor contractions, which can be integrated into (semi-)automated DBS programming systems.

The conference provided an opportunity for valuable scientific exchange, particularly on non-motor biomarkers and the methodological challenges of electrophysiological recordings and task design. It also offered a chance to reconnect with collaborators such as Helen Mayberg.

Beyond the academic sessions, participants engaged in cultural experiences, including a conference dinner with an Awa Odori dance performance and exploring Kobe with early career researchers from institutions such as UCSF and the Bern group, including an evening of karaoke.

 

© Pictures: TRR 295 ReTune