Dr Zhang Bingbing, a PhD student of Prof Georg Kranz, has received the Faculty Distinguished Thesis Award. The title of Dr Zhang’s thesis is Testing the Neuromodulatory Effects of Theta-burst Stimulation, which focuses on optimising intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, to improve its efficacy for neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression. Through experimental and computational studies, she addressed challenges such as variability in responses, optimal stimulation intensity, timing of priming protocols, and anatomical differences. Key findings identified 70% of the resting motor threshold as the most effective intensity, demonstrated the importance of a 10-minute priming interval to enhance metaplasticity, and highlighted how anatomy affects outcomes. These insights refine iTBS protocols and advance its potential as a precision therapeutic tool in clinical practice. Please join us in congratulating Dr Zhang on her achievement.
