Optical Tag-Based Neuronavigation and Augmentation System for Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation

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Authors: Xuyi Hu, Ke Ma, Siwei Liu, Per Ola Kristensson, Stefan Goetz
Cited by: 0

Abstract

Accurate neuronavigation is critical for effective transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), as stimulation outcomes depend directly on precise coil placement. Existing neuronavigation systems are often costly, complex, and prone to tracking errors. To address these limitations, we present a computer vision based neuronavigation system that enables real time tracking of the patient and TMS instrumentation. The system integrates a multi camera optical tracking setup with consumer grade hardware and visible markers to drive a digital twin of the stimulation process. A dynamic 3D brain model in Unity updates in real time to visualize coil position and estimated stimulation targets. Augmented reality (AR) is further incorporated to project this model directly onto the patient's head, enabling intuitive, in situ coil adjustment without reliance on abstract numerical displays. Overall, the proposed approach improves spatial precision and accuracy while enhancing usability.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies Augmented Reality Applications EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces

Publication details

Journal / source
arXiv (Cornell University)
Publication date
23 January 2026
Document type
Preprint