Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, speaking as an invited speaker at the World Neurotalk 2024 Conference in the session titled 'Frontiers of Medical and Clinical Neurosciences,' addressed the role of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in addiction, stating, “Especially in addiction treatment, the primary goal is to eliminate alcohol or the substance used from the body, and then to reduce the craving and desire felt for these substances.”
Prof. Dr. Türker Ergüzel noted that neuroimaging (EEG and fMRI) data collected over 26 years at NPİSTANBUL Hospital has been analyzed at Üsküdar University's application and research centers to create the BraiNP/NP Model. He added that the model, which uses deep learning algorithms, can predict the preliminary diagnosis of various psychiatric diseases and the TMS treatment response in patients with depression at a rate of 98%.
Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, participated as an invited speaker at the “World Neurotalk 2024 Conference” held in Budapest from June 12-14, 2024, sharing the work carried out at Üsküdar University and NPİSTANBUL Hospital.
An international event inviting distinguished researchers
The World Neurotalk Congress is an international event that invites distinguished researchers who are experts in their fields, focusing on basic research, advanced technology, and clinical applications. Providing an interdisciplinary platform for discussions on research and achievements, the congress has seen over 1000 participants from more than 50 countries and regions in previous years, with the participation of prominent experts in their respective fields and countries, such as neuroscientists, psychiatrists, neurologists, and engineers.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan attended the congress accompanied by Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (MDBF) Software Engineering Department Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel, and NPİSTANBUL Hospital and Üsküdar University Board Member M. Fırat Tarhan (M.Sc.).
Brain stimulation techniques addressed the role of TMS in addiction
In his presentation titled 'What is the promise of neuromodulation treatment in addiction Psychiatry,' Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan discussed brain stimulation techniques, the role of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in addiction, and shared his projection on current meta-analysis studies, new research, unanswered questions, and future work in neuromodulation. In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Tarhan, who explained the neuromodulation center practices at NPİSTANBUL Hospital, also provided brief information about photobiomodulation (PBM), which has recently begun to be used in the treatments of Alzheimer's, Traumatic Brain Injury, Parkinson's, Autism, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Long-covid.
Enhancing cognitive ability by working like cellular 'batteries'
Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that he contributed to innovative treatment processes by incorporating The Vielight Neuro™ product into the treatment protocol. This product improves mitochondrial health by absorbing light energy in the Near Infra Red (NIR) wavelength range, enhances cognitive ability by working like cellular 'batteries' that provide energy to carry out biochemical reactions and other cellular processes, and increases cerebral blood flow.
Deep TMS reduces craving in addiction
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, who also shared the application and working principle of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), stated that the aim of this method is to stimulate deep brain regions using the TMS method. “Especially in addiction treatment, the primary goal is to eliminate alcohol or the substance used from the body, and then to reduce the craving and desire felt for these substances,” said Prof. Dr. Tarhan, sharing findings from recent studies showing that deep TMS treatment reduces the desire for cigarettes, alcohol, and substance use in addiction patients.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also provided information on the history of TMS applications in psychiatry since 1908 and human studies of rTMS in substance addiction.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also shared information about the neurobiology of addiction and parameters related to rTMS treatment in addiction, and informed the participants about the magnetic coils used.
NP-Model application, for which an international patent application has been made, was explained
Following Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (MDBF) Software Engineering Department Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel also presented on the NP-Model application, for which Üsküdar University and NPİSTANBUL Hospital have filed an international patent.
Prof. Ergüzel pointed out that neuroimaging (EEG and fMRI) data collected over 26 years at NPİSTANBUL Hospital has been analyzed at Üsküdar University’s application and research centers to create the BraiNP/NP Model. He added that the model, which utilizes deep learning algorithms, can predict the preliminary diagnosis of various psychiatric diseases and the TMS treatment response in patients with depression with an accuracy of 98%.
Concurrently developing its prognostic interface, Prof. Ergüzel and his team stated that they are also about to add a model to the interface that classifies between 7 different emotions using a recently developed facial emotion recognition model.
To be made accessible to all users
Prof. Ergüzel also noted that the classification model will be made accessible to all users once the relevant article is published. Reminding that BraiNP was developed under the consultancy of Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and made available with a web interface at npmodel.com, Prof. Ergüzel said, “In its current state, BraiNP provides high accuracy of 98% in brain wave measurements with predictive models for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), healthy control, unipolar-bipolar, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) response in depression.”