BIONIC: A Principled Approaches to Stimulating Circuits

In this engaging keynote, Dr. Cameron McIntyre, biomedical engineer and world leader in neuromodulation modeling, explores how the next generation of brain‑stimulation therapies will depend on building far more accurate maps of human brain circuits. He compares today’s understanding of brain anatomy to early world cartography—broad outlines exist, but the fine‑grained details needed for true navigation are still missing. Dr. McIntyre explains how breakthroughs in diffusion MRI, tractography, and 3D visualization have moved the field from basic Brodmann‑area maps toward connectomic‑guided targeting, enabling more precise neurosurgical planning. By integrating modern imaging with classical histology from expert neuroanatomists, his team is developing high‑resolution, next‑generation anatomical maps that can guide DBS electrode placement and multisite stereo‑EEG sampling. He highlights examples where these methods have already transformed care, such as reviving subcallosal cingulate DBS for depression by placing electrodes exactly within the correct fiber pathways—raising clinical response rates from under 50% to over 75%. This demonstrates how stimulating the right circuit—not just the right nucleus—can dramatically change outcomes. Still, Dr. McIntyre emphasizes that most current connectomic neuromodulation research relies on weak correlation‑based models. To truly optimize neuromodulation, the field must integrate biophysics, neural microanatomy, electric‑field modeling, ionic‑current simulations, and electrophysiological validation, building predictive tools that can forecast how stimulation influences neural activity. He discusses global initiatives like the NIH Connects Program aimed at creating the next generation of human connectome data, and stresses the need for electrophysiology‑validated connectivity maps that combine structural, functional, and biophysical insights. Ultimately, Dr. McIntyre outlines a future where clinicians can plan stimulation with Google‑Maps‑level precision—optimizing targets, parameters, and outcomes based on a deep, mechanistic understanding of brain circuits. 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Cameron McIntyre 00:55 Engineering Foundations: Electric Fields & Neural Biophysics 01:23 Why Brain Mapping Is Like Ancient Cartography 02:22 From Early Maps to Modern Neuroanatomy 03:30 Brodmann Areas & the First Functional Brain Maps 04:32 White Matter Pathways as the “Shipping Routes” of the Brain 05:17 MRI & the Digital Revolution in Brain Mapping 06:13 Toward Google‑Maps‑Level Brain Navigation 07:01 Building Next‑Generation Brain Maps with Histology + Imaging 08:17 Applying Advanced Maps to Surgical Planning (DBS & sEEG) 09:33 Connectomic‑Guided Targeting: SCC DBS Case Success 10:40 Limits of Current Correlation‑Based Mapping 11:46 The Future: Predictive Biophysical Models & Human Connectome 2.0 From Mayo Clinic to your inbox (free): https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/newsletters Visit Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org Connect with Mayo Clinic: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayoclinic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayoclinic X: https://x.com/MayoClinic Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mayoclinic