A narrative review on non-invasive stimulation of the cerebellum in neurological diseases

Cochlear implant (CI) users receive only limited sound information through their implant, which means that they struggle to understand speech in noisy environments. Recent work has suggested that combining the electrical signal from the CI with a haptic signal that provides crucial missing sound information (“electro-haptic stimulation”; EHS) could improve speech-in-noise performance. The aim of the current study was to test whether EHS could enhance speech-in-noise performance in CI users using: (1) a tactile signal derived using an algorithm that could be applied in real time, (2) a stimulation site appropriate for a real-world application, and (3) a tactile signal that could readily be produced by a compact, portable device. We measured speech intelligibility in multi-talker noise with and without vibro-tactile stimulation of the wrist in CI users, before and after a short training regime. No effect of EHS was found before training, but after training EHS was found to improve the number of words correctly identified by an average of 8.3 %-points, with some users improving by more than 20 %-points. Our approach could offer an inexpensive and non-invasive means of improving speech-in-noise performance in CI users.

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Non-invasive stimulation of vagal afferents reduces gastric frequency

10.1101/773259 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Vanessa Teckentrup ◽

Sandra Neubert ◽

João C. P. Santiago ◽

Manfred Hallschmid ◽

Martin Walter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Expenditure ◽

Vagus Nerve ◽

Energy Homeostasis ◽

Resting Energy Expenditure ◽

Vagal Afferents ◽

Metabolic Effects ◽

Net Energy ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Induced Changes ◽

Stimulation Of

AbstractMetabolic feedback between the gut and the brain relayed via the vagus nerve contributes to energy homeostasis. We investigated in healthy adults whether non-invasive stimulation of vagal afferents impacts energy homeostasis via efferent effects on metabolism or digestion. In a randomized crossover design, we applied transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) while recording efferent metabolic effects using simultaneous electrogastrography (EGG) and indirect calorimetry. We found that taVNS reduced gastric myoelectric frequency (p =.008), but did not alter resting energy expenditure. We conclude that stimulating vagal afferents induces gastric slowing via vagal efferents without acutely affecting net energy expenditure at rest. Collectively, this highlights the potential of taVNS to modulate digestion by activating the dorsal vagal complex. Thus, taVNS-induced changes in gastric frequency are an important peripheral marker of brain stimulation effects.

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Time-dependent Changes in Prostaglandin Excretion in Response to Frusemide in Man

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs0560077 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 77-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

B. Scherer ◽

P. C. Weber

Keyword(s):

Haemodynamic Effects ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Urinary Volume ◽

Clear Cut ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Urinary Potassium ◽

The One ◽

Vascular Compartment ◽

Stimulation Of

1. To evaluate in man by a non-invasive technique the possible role of prostaglandin (PG) compounds in initial renal haemodynamic effects after frusemide we studied the urinary excretion of PGE2 and of PGF2α before and at 15 min and 120 min after intravenous injection of this drug. 2. An increase of PGE2 and of PGF2α excretion was found in all 19 volunteer subjects within 15 min after frusemide, and PG excretion had returned towards control values at 120 min. The stimulation of PGF2α excretion by frusemide was markedly lower in men than in women, but this difference was statistically not significant. 3. No clear-cut relation was found between urinary PG compounds, on the one hand, and urinary volume, urinary sodium and urinary potassium, on the other hand, during the study. 4. The results support the assumption that the rapid increase of urinary PG compounds after frusemide, which parallels the changes in renal haemodynamics, may be an indicator of an activation of the PG system, in part or predominantly, in the vascular compartment.

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Implication of Auditory Confounding in Interpreting Somatosensory and Motor Responses in Low-Intensity Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00701.2020 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Christine Park ◽

Mengyue Chen ◽

Taewon Kim

Keyword(s):

Focused Ultrasound ◽

Auditory Pathway ◽

Localization Accuracy ◽

Motor Responses ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Ultrasound Stimulation ◽

Transcranial Focused Ultrasound ◽

Indirect Stimulation ◽

Stimulation Of

Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (LI-tFUS) stimulation is a non-invasive neuromodulation tool that demonstrates high target localization accuracy and depth penetration. It has been shown to modulate activities in the primary motor and somatosensory cortex. Previous studies in animals and humans acknowledged the possibility of indirect stimulation of the peripheral auditory pathway that could confound the somatosensory and motor responses observed with LI-tFUS stimulation. Here, we discuss the implications and interpretations of auditory confounding in the context of neuromodulation.

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