Polytimi Frangou

RESEARCH FOCUS

Disruptions in GABAergic and cholinergic signalling are implicated in a wide range of neurological symptoms that remain insufficiently addressed by current treatments. However, the development of novel non-pharmacological interventions is limited by an incomplete understanding of:

• how GABA and acetylcholine shape brain activity and network connectivity, and
• how state-of-the-art non-invasive brain stimulation methods can be harnessed to target these neurochemical systems effectively.

My research investigates the neurophysiological mechanisms through which GABA and acetylcholine facilitate human cognitive function and brain plasticity. To address these questions, I combine ultra-high field MRI and MR Spectroscopy with pharmacology and non-invasive brain stimulation in healthy individuals and patient populations.

Research Methods

Imaging: ultra-high field MRS, functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, electromyography

Brain stimulation: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS),  transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS), transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS)