The doctoral dissertation in the field of Applied Physics will be examined online at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Kuopio campus and online.
What is the topic of your doctoral research? Why is it important to study the topic?
My research focuses on the feature extraction and analysis of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Studying this is crucial as MEPs provide insights into brain function and motor pathways, which are vital for diagnosing and treating neurological disorders. Understanding MEPs can lead to better clinical assessments and interventions for motor-related conditions.
What are the key findings or observations of your doctoral research?
Key findings include the identification of the minimum MEP trials needed for accurate analysis, insights into neurophysiological development from childhood to adulthood, and the impact of TMS coil orientation on MEPs. The development of MEPFeatX, a MATLAB package for automated MEP analysis, is a novel and valuable contribution, making advanced MEP analysis accessible and standardized in TMS research.
How can the results of your doctoral research be utilised in practice?
The results can potentially improve clinical assessments of motor disorders, enhance understanding of motor development, and optimize TMS protocols by informing best practices for coil orientation. The MEPFeatX software enables standardized, automated analysis of MEPs, making it a valuable tool for researchers and clinicians in neurophysiology and motor control.
What are the key research methods and materials used in your doctoral research?
My research involved using principal component regression (PCR) for MEP analysis, navigated TMS to measure MEPs across age groups, and systematic testing of coil orientations to study their impact on MEP features. The development of the MEPFeatX MATLAB package was also a key component, facilitating the automated and standardized extraction of MEP features across various experimental settings.
The doctoral dissertation of Thi Anh Dao Nguyen, M.Eng. entitled Feature extraction of motor-evoked potentials in transcranial magnetic stimulation be examined at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Kuopio Campus and online. The opponent will be Assistant Professor Hanna Renvall, Aalto University, and the custos will be Professor Pasi Karjalainen, University of Eastern Finland. Language of the public defence is English.
