CCBBI is hosting Dr. David Pitcher, one of the world's leading cognitive neuroscience experts on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), for a multi-day TMS Workshop on May 4-7, 2026.
Dr. Pitcher is an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of York. He is a cognitive neuroscientist studying the cortical mechanisms of the human visual system. He uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and neuropsychological patient data to test functional models of brain function with a particular focus on face perception and emotion recognition.
2:00 pm Introduction to TMS Talk
Using TMS as an experimental tool for Cognitive Neuroscience
Abstract: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a powerful experimental method for studying human cognitive function because it can transiently, and safely, disrupt normal neuronal processing when delivered over a targeted brain region. The effects of this disruption on behaviour can then be measured using the standard tools of experimental psychology, e.g., performance accuracy, reaction times (RT), threshold procedures, eye movements, etc. In addition, by measuring task performance during the delivery of TMS, and when no TMS is delivered, it is possible for participants to act as their own experimental control group. The effects of TMS disruption can also be measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electrophysiology. Using this approach enables researchers to establish the remote brain-wide effects the induced neural disruption has across the entire brain. In this talk I will suggest a number of practical considerations when designing a TMS study and present examples from prior studies.