EEG-IntraMap: Accessible deep brain insight for precision depression care

Depression affects over 300 million people worldwide, yet current treatments are often based on trial-and-error, with only one-third of patients improving with their first medication. Our team has developed EEG-IntraMap, an innovative software platform that transforms standard EEG recordings into precise measurements of deep brain activity. 

While brain imaging could help guide treatment decisions, current options such as fMRI are expensive and impractical for routine clinical use. EEG offers an ideal foundation since it is widely available and cost-effective, but traditional EEG analysis has been limited in measuring deep brain activity implicated in depression. 

Through research combining scalp EEG with direct brain recordings in patients undergoing neurosurgery, we have developed and validated algorithms that can reliably measure activity in these deep brain regions involved in depression, including the anterior cingulate cortex, insula, and amygdala. 

EEG-IntraMap will seamlessly integrate with existing EEG systems in clinics, requiring no additional hardware investment. By providing clinicians with precise measurements of deep brain activity, EEG-IntraMap will enable biologically-interpretable and improved treatment selection and early relapse detection. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce the time it takes for patients to find effective treatment while advancing our scientific understanding of depression.