Michelle Avendaño-Ortega
Papers
1
Total Citations
4
H-Index
1
About
Michelle Avendaño-Ortega is a leading researcher in the neuroengineering of psychiatric disorders, with a focus on deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (trOCD). Her work pioneers the use of current-steering strategies to enhance therapeutic outcomes while minimizing side effects. In her highly cited 2023 study, she demonstrated how directional DBS of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis can attenuate adverse effects—such as hypomania and impulsivity—by precisely shaping the electric field, a major advance over conventional stimulation. This work, which has garnered significant attention with 4 citations in a short time, builds on the FDA’s humanitarian device exemption for DBS in the anterior limb of the internal capsule. Avendaño-Ortega’s contributions are reshaping the clinical landscape for severe OCD, offering hope to patients who have exhausted other treatments. Her research sits at the intersection of computational modeling, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, and she is recognized for translating complex engineering principles into tangible patient benefits. As a rising voice in neuromodulation, she continues to push the boundaries of personalized, side-effect-free brain stimulation.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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