BrainWAVE: Noninvasive Rhythm Stimulation

Matthew Attokaren and colleagues recently published their project, BrainWAVE. It is an open source, noninvasive sensory flicker based deep brain stimulation method. This brain-oscillation stimulating software can be adapted across subjects and easily integrated into a variety of experimental designs (e.g., electrophysiology, neuroimaging, EEG, MRI) to measure the effects of rhythmic brain activity on behavior. The BrainWAVE circuit design is composed of three hardware component types: signal generators, signal modulators, and audio/visual output. An Arduino can be used for signal generation. BrainWAVE can be interfaced with a variety of output sources. The BrainWAVE stimulator has been newly optimized, now featuring a synchronized multimodal stimulation, intuitive GUI, remote control (for MRI), as well as a new protocol for blinded flicker studies. Brainways was also recently tested for safety by assessing potential adverse human side effects.