Professor Chen Jia-jin's team at National Cheng Kung University has developed an innovative digital therapy for anxiety (NeuraStim) by integrating high-precision transcranial electrical stimulation with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). This therapy adjusts electrical stimulation parameters based on real-time brain activity monitoring to provide precise and personalized treatment for anxiety.
High-Accuracy Emotion Feature Extraction
The team measures brain tissue oxygen activity in subjects exposed to emotional videos (happy, sad, scared, angry, disgusted) using fNIRS. Through algorithms such as sliding window phase coherence and K-means clustering, they successfully predict functional connectivity matrices for different emotional responses with an overall accuracy of 95.7%.
Painless and Highly Personalized Brain Activity Modulation
NeuraStim operates as follows: patients wear an fNIRS headband that emits near-infrared light to the cerebral cortex, reflecting neuronal activity through detected blood oxygen levels. Data is transmitted via Bluetooth to a computer or mobile device, where algorithms filter noise and accurately present brain activity states. The system then adjusts HD-ES stimulation parameters in real-time based on brain activity, including electrode placement, current intensity, and frequency. Electrodes placed on the scalp emit low-intensity currents to painlessly and safely modulate neuronal activity in specific brain areas. Continuous monitoring and adjustment ensure personalized and precise neurostimulation therapy. This system can also be used at home, enhancing patient participation and treatment effectiveness.
Home Digital Therapy Support
NeuraStim not only records brain activity data from each session for medical personnel to track patient progress and adjust treatment plans but also integrates digital therapy with biofeedback information on brain activity. This provides personalized cognitive behavioral training that can be conducted at home, boosting patient engagement and treatment outcomes.
Future Applications and Development
Professor Chen Jia-jin stated that the team will continue to explore NeuraStim's potential in treating other neurological conditions such as depression, insomnia, and dementia. They aim to optimize the technology and develop the product further, expanding its reach through clinical trials and endorsements from clinical opinion leaders. This approach will help secure funding for mass production and promote NeuraStim in domestic and international markets.
Resource (mandarin)
