Abstract: Methods for treating neurological disorders, including neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological disorders, and associated systems are disclosed. One such method includes identifying one or more neural populations, including a cortical target neural population, associated with a neurological condition. The method can further include comparing a patient-specific measure of a characteristic parameter for a selected one of the neural populations with a target measure for the same parameter. If the patient-specific measure differs from the target measure by at least a target amount, the method can include selecting an electrical signal polarity, frequency, or both polarity and frequency based at least in part on the difference between the patient-specific measure and the target measure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying signals, including contralesional electromagnetic signals, to neural populations, are disclosed. A particular method can be directed to treating a patient having a subject neural population in a first (e.g., ipsilesional) hemisphere of the brain, with the subject neural population having, or previously having, a functionality capable of being improved. The method can include directing an application of electromagnetic signals at least proximate to a target neural population at a second (e.g., contralesional) hemisphere of the brain to at least constrain a functionality of the target neural population, which has transcallosal communication with the first hemisphere.

Abstract: Methods for establishing parameters for neural stimulation, including via performance of working memory tasks, and associated kits, are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes engaging a patient in a function controlled at least in part by a target neural population, and applying electromagnetic signals to the target neural population. A target parameter in accordance with which the electromagnetic signals are applied is adjusted, based at least in part on a characteristic of the patient's performance of the function. Electromagnetic signals are applied to the patient with the adjusted target parameter, and the patient's response to the electromagnetic signals, including the characteristic of the patient's performance, is evaluated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for varying electromagnetic and adjunctive neural therapies are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes applying electromagnetic signals to a target neural population of a patient over a first period of time in accordance with a first mode (e.g., including signal delivery to the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system, via implanted or non-implanted devices). The method can further include applying electromagnetic stimulation to the patient over a second period of time in accordance with a second mode different than the first mode. Varying the mode between the first period of time and second period of time can increase the efficacy and/or longevity of the stimulation. Systems in accordance with other embodiments can support multiple signal delivery devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for patient interactive neural stimulation and/or chemical substance delivery are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes affecting a target neural population of the patient by providing to the patient at least one of an electromagnetic signal and a chemical substance. The method can further include detecting at least one characteristic of the patient, with the characteristic at least correlated with the patient's performance of an adjunctive therapy task that is performed in association with affecting the target neural population. The method can still further include controlling at least one parameter in accordance with which the target neural population is affected, based at least in part on the detected characteristic.

Abstract: Neural stimulation and optical monitoring systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for treating a neural condition includes a signal delivery device configured to be implanted into a patient proximate to a skull of the patient and positioned to apply electromagnetic signals to one or more target sites within the patient. The apparatus also includes an implantable optical monitoring assembly configured to monitor optical properties at one or more optical monitoring sites within the patient. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to be implanted into the patient. The controller is operatively coupled to the signal delivery device and the optical monitoring assembly and programmed to control both the signal delivery device and the optical monitoring assembly. The controller also includes a power source to power both the signal delivery device and the optical monitoring assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for establishing parameters for neural stimulation are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes applying a first stimulus to a first neural population associated with a first neural function, using a first set of stimulation parameters. The method can further include detecting a response to the first stimulus at least proximate to the patient's central nervous system and, based at least in part on the response to the first stimulus and on the first set of stimulation parameters, applying a second stimulus to a second neural population. The second neural population can be associated with a second neural function different than the first neural function and can be stimulated using a second set of stimulation parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing or affecting neural stimulation efficiency and/or efficacy are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system and/or method may apply electromagnetic stimulation to a patient's nervous system over a first time domain according to a first set of stimulation parameters, and over a second time domain according to a second set of stimulation parameters. The first and second time domains may be sequential, simultaneous, or nested. Stimulation parameters may vary in accordance with one or more types of duty cycle, amplitude, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, spatiotemporal, and/or polarity variations. Stimulation may be applied at subthreshold, threshold, and/or suprathreshold levels in one or more periodic, aperiodic (e.g., chaotic), and/or pseudo-random manners. In some embodiments stimulation may comprise a burst pattern having an interburst frequency corresponding to an intrinsic brainwave frequency, and regular and/or varying intraburst stimulation parameters.