Department of Biomedical Engineering
Mentors: Alexander Opitz, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Engineering & Kelvin O. Lim, M.D., Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Project: Personalized Closed-Loop Neuromodulation Targeting Prefrontal Circuit Dysfunction in Psychostimulant Use Disorder
Dr. Güth’s research probes the causal relationship of neural oscillations and human cognition to design personalized, closed-loop brain stimulation protocols. By developing novel tools for the real-time analysis of electroencephalography (EEG), he synchronizes transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to individual neural oscillations. Dr. Güth is currently applying this technology to investigate whether personalized repetitive TMS over the prefrontal cortex can aid the treatment of psychostimulant use disorder. This intervention tailors the timing of TMS to EEG rhythms reflecting cognitive functions involved in maladaptive behaviors, such as treatment dropout and relapse. By moving away from one-size-fits-all protocols and toward a mechanistic understanding of EEG oscillations, Dr. Güth aims to advance the impact of TMS and to strengthen the brain circuits that support recovery.