Automated and noninvasive in vivo mapping of brain functions in the human cortex
Mapping forms the basis for understanding the functional organization of the brain and for developing targeted interventions in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive tool that allows causal mapping of cortical functions involved in motor control, speech, and connectivity. Since manual mapping procedures limit standardization, we present an automated cortical mapping method that integrates electronically controlled multi-locus TMS with a Bayesian optimization algorithm for identifying stimulation targets efficiently and objectively through a closed-loop framework. We localized individual motor representation area peaks with high accuracy (average 2.4 mm and 5° deviation from the optimum) in only approximately 4 minutes. This represents a substantial advancement over current mapping approaches, providing the means to greatly accelerate and standardize both research and clinical protocols while maintaining high reliability. We anticipate that our approach can further extend to map other cortical functions that cannot be easily analyzed online by a human operator.
Authors
- Risto Juhani Ilmoniemi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3340-2618)
- Ana Maria Soto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9843-1903)
- Ida Granö (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4646-0419)
- Jaakko O Nieminen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6841-7043)
- Timo Roine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3104-9734)
- Ilkka Rissanen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6442-1061)
- Renan H. Matsuda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1927-4824)
- Olli‐Pekka Kahilakoski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4443-2182)
- Miriam Kirchhoff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6099-0283)
- Tuomas P. Mutanen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5995-8307)
- Giulia Pieramico (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8183-1376)
- Victor Hugo Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0254-4322)
- Jaakko O. Nieminen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7826-3519)
- Pantelis Lioumis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2016-9199)
- Heikki Sinisalo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0037-8378)
- Timo Tommila (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7312-422X)
- Mikael Laine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5534-9170)
- Oskari Ahola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0276-0109)
Institutions
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Helsinki University Hospital (FI)
- University of Chieti-Pescara (IT)
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (DE)
- University of Tübingen (DE)
- Aalto University (FI)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Biology
- Published
- 2026-10-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-11142-7
- Primary Topic
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- European Commission
- Suomen Kulttuurirahasto
- Tekniikan Edistämissäätiö
- Jenny ja Antti Wihurin Rahasto
- HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council