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The science behind
InhibiTic.

InhibiTic is built on well-established neuroscientific principles. Every component of the device ??from the choice of stimulation target to the EEG features used for urge detection ??is grounded in peer-reviewed research published in leading journals. This page summarizes the evidence.

1. The prefrontal cortex is the brain's inhibitory control center.

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) plays a central role in stopping unwanted actions. Neuroimaging studies in Tourette syndrome consistently show reduced prefrontal activation during tic suppression attempts, suggesting that the circuit is intact but underpowered ??it needs a momentary boost to overcome the urge.

Functional MRI studies demonstrate that successful tic suppression correlates with increased activation in the dlPFC and decreased activation in the basal ganglia. This is the circuit InhibiTic targets.

2. tACS at 20 Hz enhances prefrontal inhibitory function.

Transcranial alternating current stimulation in the beta frequency band (13??0 Hz) has been shown to entrain cortical oscillations and improve motor inhibition. Beta-band activity in the prefrontal cortex is specifically associated with maintaining the current motor state and suppressing unwanted movements ??exactly what a tic-suppression device needs to facilitate.

Multiple controlled studies have demonstrated that tACS applied over frontal regions at beta frequencies improves performance on stop-signal and go/no-go tasks, the gold-standard measures of inhibitory control.

3. Premonitory urges have detectable EEG signatures.

The sensory phenomenon that precedes a tic ??the premonitory urge ??is not purely subjective. EEG studies have identified measurable neural correlates: changes in beta-band power over sensorimotor and prefrontal regions in the 500??000 ms window before tic onset. These are the same features the InhibiTic classifier is trained to detect.

Slow cortical potentials and event-related desynchronization in the beta band have been reported in multiple studies using both scalp EEG and intracranial recordings in Tourette patients.

4. Closed-loop stimulation is more effective and safer than continuous stimulation.

Continuous brain stimulation carries risks of adaptation, off-target effects, and unnecessary current delivery. Closed-loop systems ??which activate only when a specific neural state is detected ??deliver less total current, reduce habituation, and achieve better symptom control. This principle has been validated in deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and is now being applied to non-invasive neuromodulation.

InhibiTic's on-demand approach means the brain is stimulated for seconds at a time, only during urge events. The remainder of the time, neural circuits function normally. This is the mechanism by which cognitive function is preserved.

5. tACS at 1.5 mA is safe and well-tolerated.

The safety of transcranial electrical stimulation has been extensively studied. A comprehensive evidence-based guideline published in Clinical Neurophysiology reviewed thousands of sessions across hundreds of studies and concluded that tACS at currents up to 2 mA, with electrode sizes exceeding 25 cm², produces no serious adverse effects and only mild, transient sensations (tingling, phosphenes) in a minority of participants. InhibiTic operates at 1.5 mA, well within these established safety limits, with hardware overcurrent protection and automatic shutoff as additional safeguards.

6. Cognitive function is preserved with on-demand stimulation.

Unlike systemic medications that globally alter dopamine transmission, focal tACS does not produce cognitive impairment. Multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that tACS applied to the prefrontal cortex at beta frequencies does not impair ??and in some cases improves ??working memory, response inhibition, and attentional control. This is the foundation of InhibiTic's "cognitive preservation" principle: by stimulating only when needed and only in the relevant circuit, higher cognitive functions remain intact.

Summary of evidence.

The InhibiTic closed-loop architecture is not speculative. Each component ??prefrontal tACS for inhibitory control, EEG-based urge detection, closed-loop triggering, and cognitive safety ??is supported by independently replicated, peer-reviewed findings. The device integrates these established principles into a single wearable system designed for daily use by patients who currently have no treatment option that preserves cognitive function.