The system first uses an individual structural MRI to establish the brain’s anatomical reference. It then registers the participant’s head position and tracks the coil during stimulation. This relationship allows each magnetic pulse to be aligned with a predefined cortical location, helping preserve targeting consistency even when the participant’s position changes.
An individual structural MRI provides the anatomical information needed to identify and define a participant-specific cortical target. Rather than relying only on general anatomical estimates, the system uses this person’s brain structure as the reference for registration and coil positioning. This supports more accurate and reproducible links between stimulation and observed biological or behavioral effects.
Movement tracking helps the system account for changes in the participant’s head position during an experiment. Because the coil is monitored relative to the registered anatomy, stimulation can remain aligned with the intended cortical location. This reduces variation caused by positioning changes and strengthens comparisons across pulses, participants, or experimental conditions.
Researchers can relate localized stimulation to changes in neural activity, perception, behavior, or physiology. These outcomes allow experiments to examine how a particular cortical region contributes to brain function and observable responses. In biology, this supports investigations that connect anatomical targets with functional effects rather than treating the brain as a uniformly responsive system.
A typical workflow begins with an individual’s structural MRI, followed by registration of the participant’s head position within the navigation system. Researchers then define a cortical target and track the stimulation coil as pulses are delivered. The resulting stimulation is evaluated in relation to changes in neural activity, perception, behavior, or physiology.
The approach is used in basic neuroscience, cognitive research, and clinical investigations of neurological and psychiatric disorders. In research, it helps test relationships between localized brain stimulation and function. In clinical investigations, precise targeting can support treatment planning. Its value is greatest when anatomical specificity and reproducibility are important to interpreting stimulation outcomes.