Methods and systems for improving permalloy sensitivity. One or more permalloy sensing components can be configured upon a substrate, and one or more conductors are located above a portion of the permalloy sensing component of interest. A current can then be initiated through the conductor. The substrate can then be heated such that the current creates a magnetic field that modifies the anisotropy of the portion of the permalloy sensing component of interest, thereby providing selective anisotropy and improving permalloy sensitivity thereof.