In recent years, numerous developments have taken place in the field of neuromodulation. The introduction of newer technologies, software and increasing understanding of brain physiology in neurological and psychiatric conditions have shaped this rapidly growing field. To create a space where all stakeholders could freely interact to discuss challenges, advancements and opportunities in the field, the first Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Think Tank took place in 2012 in Gainesville Florida at the University of Florida. Since then, the meeting has grown to a hybrid virtual and in person meeting expanding the number of participants to over 200 world experts in the field. The most recent DBS think tank took place in Orlando Florida on August 25th to 27th, 2021. The meeting addressed new research, technologies, and neuroethical issues in the field of neuromodulation.

Neuromodulation is among the fastest-growing areas of medicine, involving many diverse specialties and affecting hundreds of thousands of patients with numerous disorders worldwide. It can briefly be described as the science of how electrical, chemical, and mechanical interventions can modulate the nervous system function. A prominent example of neuromodulation is deep brain stimulation (DBS), an intervention that reflects a fundamental shift in the understanding of neurological and psychiatric diseases: namely as resulting from a dysfunctional activity pattern in a defined neuronal network that can be normalized by targeted stimulation. The application of DBS has grown remarkably and more than 130,000 patients worldwide have obtained a DBS intervention in the past 30 years—most of them for treating movement disorders. This Frontiers Research Topics provides an overview on the current discussion beyond basic research in DBS and other brain stimulation technologies. Researchers from various disciplines, who are working on broader clinical, ethical and social issues related to DBS and related neuromodulation technologies, have contributed to this research topic.