Neuromodulation Center

Neuromodulation is a type of therapy that’s used to treat and enhance quality of life in individuals who suffer from severe chronic illness, such as persistent pain; spinal injury; spasticity; movement disorders; epilepsy; treatment resistant depression; stroke; diabetic neuropathy; cardiac, bowel or bladder dysfunction; and visual or auditory disorders.

In many cases, the use of neuromodulation can be life-changing.

The Role of Electricity and Magnetic Fields

One of the ways neuromodulation therapy can be delivered is by using electricity. The electricity can be given directly by electrodes implanted in the brain, or noninvasively through electrodes placed on the scalp. It can also be given by using magnetic fields applied to the head.

In each case, the device used can stimulate a response where there was previously none, (for example, a cochlear implant restoring hearing in a deaf person) or it can be used to stop a response where there was previously an uncontrollable one, (for example, a person with essential tremor, epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease.)

Range of Neuromodulation Therapies

The Stony Brook Neuromodulation Center provides a full spectrum of neuromodulation therapies including:

• Cochlear Implants
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
• Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS)
• Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
• Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

Choosing the right treatment plan, which may also include medication and counseling, should be based on a person's individual needs and medical situation, and under a doctor's care.

Access to Clinical Trials

For every existing neuromodulation treatment, there are also many more on the horizon. As an academic health center, our patients have access to many of the latest clinical trials. For example, Stony Brook is part of a randomized trial to develop vagus nerve stimulation for depression.