Techniques for selecting signal delivery sites and other parameters for treating depression and other neurological disorders, and associated systems and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed generally to techniques for selecting signal delivery sites and other signal delivery parameters for treating depression and other neurological disorders. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes obtaining first imaging information corresponding to a first region of a patient's brain, the first imaging information being based at least in part on functional characteristics of the first region. The method includes obtaining second imaging information corresponding to a second region of the patient's brain, the second region being a subset of the first region, the second imaging information being based at least in part on functional or structural characteristics of the second region. A target neural population is selected based in part on the second imaging information. The method still further includes applying an electromagnetic signal to the target neural population to improve a patient function.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method for treating a patient, comprising:
 identifying a patient as having depression;   identifying a baseline level of the patient's motor cortex excitability;   for multiple areas of the patient's DLPFC:
 applying stimulation to the patient's DLPFC using rTMS techniques; 
 after applying stimulation to the patient's DLPFC, identifying a change in the patient's motor cortex excitability using paired-pulse TMS stimulation; 
   based at least in part on identified changes in the patient's motor cortex excitability for the multiple areas of the patient's DLPFC, selecting a signal delivery site;   implanting at least one electrode proximate to the signal delivery site, within a cranial cavity of the patient's skull and outside a cortical surface of the patient's brain; and   reducing or eliminating patient depression by preferentially directing electrical signals from the at least one electrode to the signal delivery site.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein selecting a signal delivery site includes selecting the signal delivery site to be at an area of the DLPFC that has a greater effect on motor cortex excitability than other areas of the DLPFC. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein applying stimulation to the patient's DLPFC includes applying stimulation for a period of about 20 minutes. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising repeating the process of identifying a change in the patient's motor cortex excitability and the process of selecting a signal delivery site during the course of the patient's therapy to account for patient adaptation to the electrical signals.