A new study will test whether implanting an electrode to stimulate a brain circuit can safely treat depression caused by bipolar disorder. To monitor the effect of the stimulation on activity and mood, the study subjects will use smart watches and rings and smartphones that track their responses to the experimental treatment.
“We hope to use wearables and other sensor systems to map out how the stimulation is affecting patients’ mood and energy levels — to make it possible to monitor and tune deep brain stimulation therapy to treat this difficult-to-treat disorder,” said Jeffrey Herron. He is the project’s lead engineer and an assistant professor of neurological surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings. Individuals with the condition can experience periods of profound depression as well as manic episodes marked by high energy, impulsiveness and reckless decision-making.
