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The Handbook of Non-Invasive Transcranial Brain Stimulation in the Cognitive Domain

Methods, Psychophysiology, Neuroenhancement and Therapeutic Applications

  • 1st Edition, Volume 34 - December 5, 2025
  • Latest edition
  • Editors: Vincent Van Waes, Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur, Andrea Antal, Alexander T. Sack, Chris Baeken
  • Language: English

The Handbook of Non-Invasive Transcranial Brain Stimulation in the Cognitive Domain: Methods, Psychophysiology, Neuroenhancement and Therapeutic Applications presents the latest… Read more

Description

The Handbook of Non-Invasive Transcranial Brain Stimulation in the Cognitive Domain: Methods, Psychophysiology, Neuroenhancement and Therapeutic Applications presents the latest scientific insights and technological advancements in the field of noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation (NIBS) within the cognitive domain. This comprehensive volume reviews published research and explores future directions for the use of NIBS techniques, in particular repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (tDCS, tACS), to study and modulate human cognition as well as to treat various psychiatric and neurological disorders from a neurocognitive perspective. By integrating findings from preclinical animal studies, modeling approaches, and research, this book sheds light on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive processes and neuroplasticity. It provides a detailed analysis of how NIBS affects psychophysiology and cognitive performance in healthy populations while offering insights into its therapeutic potential for patients with cognitive impairments across a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders.
This handbook offers an unparalleled gateway to the dynamic and rapidly advancing field of neuromodulation and serves as an essential resource for researchers, clinicians, students, and policymakers.

Key features

  • Delivers an in-depth exploration of neuromodulation techniques, their applications in cognitive brain research, and therapeutic potential for diverse neuropsychiatric disorders.
  • Combines evidence from preclinical studies, computational models, and clinical research to illuminate the neurobiological mechanisms of NIBS on cognition and neuroplasticity.
  • Highlights the latest advancements in noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, showcasing their future potential beyond the current state of the art

Readership

Researchers and clinicians specializing in neuroscience, neuropsychology, behavioral neuroscience

Table of contents

Part 1: Methods

1.The principles and methods of noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation

2.How to design a NIBS study in the cognitive domain: Common pitfalls and recommendations

Part 2: Preclinic — psychophysiology
Section A: Animals


3.Use of tDCS, rTMS, and TUS rodents: Contributions to understanding the neurobiological mechanisms involved

4.Use of tDCS, rTMS, and TUS in non-human primates: Contributions to understanding the neurobiological mechanisms involved

5.tDCS to treat psychiatric disorders: Insights from animal studies

6.tDCS to treat neurological disorders: Insights from animal studies

7.Implication of glial cells in the effects of tDCS in mice

8.Accelerated rTMS in the canine species
Section B: Healthy


9.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation for the study of perception and attention

10.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation for the study of decision-making

11.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation for the study of memory

12.Optimizing learning with transcranial electrical stimulation

13.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation for the study of speech and language

14.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to promote executive functions
Part 3: Therapeutic applications (cognition)


15.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat attention disorders (ADHD)

16.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat autism spectrum disorders

17.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat addiction

18.rTMS to treat mood/PTSD

19.tES in mood and stress-related disorders

20.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive and related disorder

21.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat schizophrenia

22.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat cognitive aspects of other psychiatric diseases

23.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat visuospatial neglect

24.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation for language rehabilitation

25.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat mild cognitive impairment & dementia

26.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat cognitive aspects of traumatic brain injury

27.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat cognitive aspects of multiple sclerosis

28.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat fatigue in chronic diseases

29.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat cognitive aspects of chronic pain syndromes

30.Noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to treat cognitive aspects of other neurological diseases
Part 4: Ethics/regulation


31.Ethics/regulation

Index

Review quotes

Predicting brain activity is important for diagnosis. Controlling it is critical for disease. There are only a limited number of ways brain activity can be controlled non-invasively, each with advantages and shortcomings. These critical issues are debated in the didactic chapters of this volume, contributed by top experts in these fields, covering transcranial magnetic and electrical stimulation and ultrasound stimulation. The principle of “primum non nocere” (first, do no harm) is discussed by several authors, emphasizing the need to learn more about the mechanisms of these methods. The reader will walk away with the important message that non-invasive perturbation, especially its closed-loop (on-demand) version, is on its way to effectively compete with pharmaceuticals with much fewer side effects.
-György Buzsáki, MD, PhD. Author of the Rhythms of the Brain (OUP, 2006).

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Volume: 34
  • Published: December 8, 2025
  • Language: English

About the editors

VV

Vincent Van Waes

Vincent Van Waes graduated from the University of Lille, France, with a Master degree in Cognitive Science. He earned in 2008 the PhD degree in Neuroscience from the University of Lille, France, in collaboration with the Sapienza University of Roma, Italy (European Label). Following postdoctoral work at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology of the Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, USA, he joined in 2010 the University of Bourgogne-Franche Comté, France as a Research Assistant Professor (Maître de Conférences) in the Laboratory of Integrative and Clinical Neuroscience and was appointed Full Professor in 2017.

Affiliations and expertise
Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, France

JL

Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur

Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur is a university Professor and Hospital Practitioner at CH Henri Mondor. His interest is in developing innovative therapeutic strategies, both pharmacological and neurostimulation-based, that could correct neurological disorders.
Affiliations and expertise
Hôpital Henri Mondor, France

AA

Andrea Antal

Andrea Antal graduated from Attal Jozsef University of Szeged, Hungary, in Biology. She earned her PhD in 1998 in Biological Sciences from the University of Szeged, Hungary. She has an extensive background in research and training in the fields of neurology and clinical neurophysiology. Beginning in 2001, she has had a pivotal role in establishing and coordinating the activities of the visual laboratory, and later the pain laboratory in Göttingen. She is the head of the Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NBS Lab) laboratory at the University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany an experienced researcher in the field of cortical plasticity and brain stimulation, with a H-Index of 70.

Affiliations and expertise
University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany

AS

Alexander T. Sack

Alexander T. Sack graduated from Frankfurt University, Germany with a Master of Science in Psychology (2000) and PhD in Natural Sciences (2003). He completed several international postdoctoral and academic research positions before being appointed as Professor of Brain Stimulation and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience at the Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands in 2011. As the Principal Investigator of the research section “Brain Stimulation and Cognition” at the Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre, his research focuses on the neurobiological and psychological principles underlying attention, learning, memory, and cognitive control; combining various brain research techniques, ranging from psychophysics and eye-tracking, to functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Electroencephalography (EEG), and Noninvasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS). His group pioneered the development of simultaneously implemented TMS-fMRI-EEG during cognitive behavior, allowing to apply brain-stimulation while recording the individual brain network (fMRI) and oscillation (EEG) responses of cognitively engaged participants. This multimodal brain stimulation approach allows to investigate the neural network dynamics underlying human cognition in healthy volunteers and to translate these findings into clinical applications for treating various neurological and neuropsychiatric brain disorders.

Affiliations and expertise
University of Maastricht, The Netherlands

CB

Chris Baeken

Chris Baeken is currently a professor at the University of Ghent. He also works as a psychiatrist specializing in the neurobiological field of Affective Disorders.
Affiliations and expertise
Ghent University

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