Systems and methods for monitoring functional neuroplasticity
Inventors
Dosenbach, Nico • Newbold, Dillan
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12683025-B2
Publication Date
2026-07-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring neuroplasticity within at least one region of interest of a brain of a subject are disclosed. The method includes transforming at least one time sequence of signals indicative of neural activity into a summary parameter indicative of plasticity pulses. The method further includes evaluating the summary parameter with respect to one or more threshold values to obtain a determination of neuroplasticity within at least one region of interest of the subject. The method may be used to evaluate the efficacy of a neuroactive therapy, such as a neuroactive medication, a physical therapy, an occupational therapy or a speech therapy. The summary parameter obtained using the disclosed method may be displayed to a subject as a biofeedback during a neurotherapy.
Core Innovation
A computer-implemented method monitors neuroplasticity within at least one resting state functional network of a brain of a subject by obtaining a plurality of time sequences of signals in the absence of stimuli. Each time sequence comprises a plurality of pulses, where each pulse comprises a peak amplitude, and the method projects the time sequences to a 2D cortex model with vertices mapped to cortical positions of the subject.
The method identifies functionally connected regions corresponding to resting state functional networks by pair-wise evaluating Pearson correlations between the plurality of time sequences of signals. The method identifies a plurality of plasticity pulses by classifying pulses as large amplitude based on comparing peak amplitude to a constant threshold amplitude and classifying pulses as unilateral based on obtaining a peak difference between matched acquisition times for contralateral peak amplitudes and comparing the peak difference to a constant peak difference threshold.
The method adds pulses that are classified as large amplitude and unilateral to the plurality of plasticity pulses. The method transforms the plurality of plasticity pulses into a summary parameter indicative of the presence of plasticity pulses, where the summary parameter comprises at least one of a production rate of plasticity pulses, a mean amplitude of plasticity pulses, an amplitude of low frequency fluctuations, and any combination thereof.
Based on the summary parameter, the method generates a determination of neuroplasticity comprising at least one of a presence of neuroplasticity, a magnitude of neuroplasticity, and a spatial extent of neuroplasticity, and the determination is displayed to a clinical practitioner.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims, each built around detecting plasticity pulses from resting-state signals and transforming them into a summary parameter to generate a neuroplasticity determination used for a different clinical or screening output. Across the independents, the core inventive structure includes projecting time sequences onto a 2D cortex model, identifying functionally connected regions via pair-wise Pearson correlations, identifying plasticity pulses using constant threshold amplitude and constant peak difference threshold for large amplitude and unilateral classification, and transforming pulses into a summary parameter to generate determinations.
Resting-state plasticity pulse detection from ROI signal time sequences
Projecting the plurality of time sequences to a 2D cortex model, identifying functionally connected regions by pair-wise evaluating Pearson correlations, and identifying plasticity pulses by classifying pulses as large amplitude using a constant threshold amplitude and as unilateral using a peak difference between contralateral matched acquisition times compared to a constant peak difference threshold, then adding pulses classified as both.
Summary-parameter-based neuroplasticity determination
Transforming the plurality of plasticity pulses into a summary parameter indicative of the presence of plasticity pulses, where the summary parameter comprises at least one of a production rate of plasticity pulses, a mean amplitude of plasticity pulses, an amplitude of low frequency fluctuations, and any combination thereof, and generating a determination of neuroplasticity comprising at least one of a presence of neuroplasticity, a magnitude of neuroplasticity, and a spatial extent of neuroplasticity.
Efficacy proportional to increase in post-treatment neuroplasticity
Obtaining a pre-treatment determination of neuroplasticity and at least one post-treatment determination of neuroplasticity, and determining efficacy of a neuroactive therapy based on the pre-treatment determination and the at least one post-treatment determination, wherein the efficacy is proportional to an increase in post-treatment neuroplasticity relative to pre-treatment neuroplasticity.
Medication selection when post-treatment neuroplasticity is higher
Obtaining a pre-treatment determination of neuroplasticity prior to administration of a neuroactive medication and obtaining at least one post-treatment determination of neuroplasticity at least once after administration, and selecting the neuroactive medication for a therapy if the at least one post-treatment determination indicates higher neuroplasticity relative to the pre-treatment determination.
Biofeedback by displaying monitored neuroplasticity determination
Monitoring a determination of neuroplasticity during administration of a neuroactive therapy using the plasticity pulse identification and summary-parameter transformation, and displaying the determination of neuroplasticity to the subject as biofeedback.
Across the independent claims provided, the patent coverage centers on computing a summary parameter from detected plasticity pulses, classified as large amplitude and unilateral via constant threshold amplitude and constant peak difference threshold after projecting to a 2D cortex model and using Pearson-correlation-defined functional connectivity, and using the resulting neuroplasticity determination for clinical display, therapy efficacy, medication selection, or biofeedback.
Stated Advantages
Generates a determination of neuroplasticity including presence, magnitude, and spatial extent.
Provides efficacy evaluation for a neuroactive therapy proportional to an increase in post-treatment neuroplasticity relative to pre-treatment neuroplasticity.
Enables screening/selection of a neuroactive medication when post-treatment neuroplasticity is higher than pre-treatment neuroplasticity.
Provides biofeedback by displaying the neuroplasticity determination to a subject.
Documented Applications
Monitoring neuroplasticity within at least one resting state functional network and displaying the determination to a clinical practitioner.
Evaluating the efficacy of a neuroactive therapy using pre-treatment and post-treatment neuroplasticity determinations.
Screening a neuroactive medication for use in a therapy by selecting the medication when post-treatment neuroplasticity is higher than pre-treatment neuroplasticity.
Providing biofeedback to a subject undergoing a neuroactive therapy by displaying the monitored neuroplasticity determination to the subject.
Interested in licensing this patent?