An atlas and evidence-based appraisal framework of psychiatric brain stimulation targets generated by causal network mapping

Causal network mapping is an emerging technique that can be used to derive optimal disorder/symptom-specific brain stimulation targets. This technique exploits incidental variability in brain lesion and brain stimulation locations, which creates a natural experiment in which causal inferences can be drawn between lesions or modulation of specific circuits and specific clinical outcomes. Circuits identified by causal network mapping, referred to as symptom-networks, represent candidate disorder/symptom-specific brain stimulation targets. The number of psychiatric symptom-networks has grown rapidly in recent years, creating a need for a comprehensive synthesis. To address this gap, this Resource presents an atlas of 12 psychiatric symptom-network targets and appraises them using an established evaluative framework. We describe how these targets can be localized with and without neuroimaging and highlight key considerations surrounding their trialing and implementation. These materials are designed to spur the translation of symptom-network targets and scaffold advancements in this quickly developing field.