Kevin Akira Caulfield

Kevin Akira Caulfield, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). His research focuses on non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, particularly transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS), with applications in neuropsychiatric disorders, cognitive enhancement, and neurorehabilitation. He leads clinical trials exploring accelerated TMS protocols for post-partum depression and pediatric acquired brain injury, emphasizing personalized dosing and outcome optimization. Dr. Caulfield’s work integrates advanced neuroimaging (e.g., EEG, fMRI) and computational modeling to refine stimulation parameters for maximal efficacy and safety.

• Affiliations: MUSC College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Key Roles: Principal Investigator on NIH-funded studies, clinical trial leader, and developer of novel neurotechnology protocols

His research interests include optimizing transdiagnostic applications of brain stimulation, understanding neural mechanisms underlying response variability, and advancing at-home telemedicine interventions for cognitive disorders. He has pioneered methods for electric field modeling to personalize TMS/tFUS dosing, ensuring precise cortical targeting. Recent studies investigate tFUS modulation of pain pathways and thalamic attention networks, alongside rTMS for nicotine addiction and Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline.

Dr. Caulfield collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to translate laboratory findings into clinical practice, emphasizing reproducibility and patient-centered care. His work has been featured in high-impact journals across neuroscience, psychiatry, and biomedical engineering.