Duration but not intensity influences transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) after-effects on cortical excitability

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Vignaud ◽  
Marine Mondino ◽  
Emmanuel Poulet ◽  
Ulrich Palm ◽  
Jérôme Brunelin
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
After Effects ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation

scholarly journals The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on gait in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fateme Pol ◽  
Mohammad Ali Salehinejad ◽  
Hamzeh Baharlouei ◽  
Michael A. Nitsche
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Gait Rehabilitation ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation

Abstract Background Gait problems are an important symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulatory intervention that can modulate cortical excitability of the gait-related regions. Despite an increasing number of gait-related tDCS studies in PD, the efficacy of this technique for improving gait has not been systematically investigated yet. Here, we aimed to systematically explore the effects of tDCS on gait in PD, based on available experimental studies. Methods Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) approach, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PEDro databases were searched for randomized clinical trials assessing the effect of tDCS on gait in patients with PD. Results Eighteen studies were included in this systematic review. Overall, tDCS targeting the motor cortex and supplementary motor area bilaterally seems to be promising for gait rehabilitation in PD. Studies of tDCS targeting the dorosolateral prefrontal cortex or cerebellum showed more heterogeneous results. More studies are needed to systematically compare the efficacy of different tDCS protocols, including protocols applying tDCS alone and/or in combination with conventional gait rehabilitation treatment in PD. Conclusions tDCS is a promising intervention approach to improving gait in PD. Anodal tDCS over the motor areas has shown a positive effect on gait, but stimulation of other areas is less promising. However, the heterogeneities of methods and results have made it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Therefore, systematic explorations of tDCS protocols are required to optimize the efficacy.

scholarly journals Gender-specific modulation of short-term neuroplasticity in the visual cortex induced by transcranial direct current stimulation

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
LEILA CHAIEB ◽  
ANDREA ANTAL ◽  
WALTER PAULUS
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Gonadal Hormones ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Significant Difference

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive method of modulating levels of cortical excitability. In this study, data gathered over a number of previously conducted experiments before and after tDCS, has been re-analyzed to investigate correlations between sex differences with respect to neuroplastic effects. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs), phosphene thresholds (PTs), and contrast sensitivity measurements (CSs) are used as indicators of the excitability of the primary visual cortex. The data revealed that cathodally induced excitability effects 10 min post stimulation with tDCS, showed no significant difference between genders. However, stimulation in the anodal direction revealed sex-specific effects: in women, anodal stimulation heightened cortical excitability significantly when compared to the age-matched male subject group. There was no significant difference between male and female subjects immediately after stimulation. These results indicate that sex differences exist within the visual cortex of humans, and may be subject to the influences of modulatory neurotransmitters or gonadal hormones which mirror short-term neuroplastic effects.

scholarly journals S192. EFFECTS OF NICOTINE INTAKE ON NEUROPLASTICITY IN SMOKING AND NON-SMOKING PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S111-S112
Author(s):  
Benjamin Pross ◽  
Patrick Schulz ◽  
Duygu Güler ◽  
Irina Papazova ◽  
Elias Wagner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Cortical Plasticity ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanism ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Nicotine Consumption

Abstract Background Cortical plasticity – the ability to reorganize synaptic connections and adapt to environmental changes – appears to be impaired in schizophrenia patients. Results suggest the dysfunctional plasticity to be a key pathophysiological mechanism. Different non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have been used to modulate and induce cortical plasticity. In healthy subjects, nicotine was shown to play an important role in plasticity induction and is capable to alter cortical excitability and plasticity, induced by NIBS techniques. Our goal was to investigate the promising effects of a nicotine receptor activation done by Varenicline and the combination with anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) on neuroplastic changes in schizophrenia patients. Methods Our sample consisted out of twenty-four individuals with schizophrenia, twelve smokers and twelve non-smokers. Every participant received Varenicline and Placebo, combined with anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS), to induce non-focal plasticity. We inferred plasticity changes by monitoring changes in cortical excitability. This was done via motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The MEPs were recorded before and three hours after Varenicline/Placebo intake. Following the direct current stimulation, we monitored excitability changes for up to one hour. Results Significant effects through the mere Varenicline consumption or withdrawal effects could not be found in any group. However, we observed a numeric temporary decrease of excitability after a-tDCS in non-smokers following Varenicline intake. This decrease compared to the placebo condition was visible 20 minutes after a-tDCS but vanished over time. Smokers did not show any excitability changes after a-tDCS and the nicotinic receptor stimulation did not show any influence. Excitability changes after stimulation in contrast to the baseline measurement were not evident. Discussion Our results show that an activation of nicotinic receptors in schizophrenia patients does not induce excitability changes. The modulating effect of nicotine in plasticity induction via anodal transcranial direct current stimulation could not be confirmed for patients with schizophrenia. We could show that chronic nicotine consumption in patients with schizophrenia or nicotine withdrawal does not lead to fundamental excitability changes. Acute nicotine consumption has only small effects on cortical excitability in non-smokers.

Applications of transcranial direct current stimulation in children and pediatrics

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guadalupe Nathzidy Rivera-Urbina ◽  
Michael A. Nitsche ◽  
Carmelo M. Vicario ◽  
Andrés Molero-Chamizo
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
History Of

AbstractTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulatory noninvasive brain stimulation tool with potential to increase or reduce regional and remote cortical excitability. Numerous studies have shown the ability of this technique to induce neuroplasticity and to modulate cognition and behavior in adults. Clinical studies have also demonstrated the ability of tDCS to induce therapeutic effects in several central nervous system disorders. However, knowledge about its ability to modulate brain functions in children or induce clinical improvements in pediatrics is limited. The objective of this review is to describe relevant data of some recent studies that may help to understand the potential of this technique in children with specific regard to effective and safe treatment of different developmental disorders in pediatrics. Overall, the results show that standard protocols of tDCS are well tolerated by children and have promising clinical effects. Nevertheless, treatment effects seem to be partially heterogeneous, and a case of a seizure in a child with previous history of infantile spasms and diagnosed epilepsy treated with tDCS for spasticity was reported. Further research is needed to determine safety criteria for tDCS use in children and to elucidate the particular neurophysiological changes induced by this neuromodulatory technique when it is applied in the developing brain.

Enhancing Working Memory Training with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 1419-1432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacky Au ◽  
Benjamin Katz ◽  
Martin Buschkuehl ◽  
Kimberly Bunarjo ◽  
Thea Senger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Training Interventions ◽  
Learning Tasks ◽  
The Right

Working memory (WM) is a fundamental cognitive ability that supports complex thought but is limited in capacity. Thus, WM training interventions have become very popular as a means of potentially improving WM-related skills. Another promising intervention that has gained increasing traction in recent years is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive form of brain stimulation that can modulate cortical excitability and temporarily increase brain plasticity. As such, it has the potential to boost learning and enhance performance on cognitive tasks. This study assessed the efficacy of tDCS to supplement WM training. Sixty-two participants were randomized to receive either right prefrontal, left prefrontal, or sham stimulation with concurrent visuospatial WM training over the course of seven training sessions. Results showed that tDCS enhanced training performance, which was strikingly preserved several months after training completion. Furthermore, we observed stronger effects when tDCS was spaced over a weekend break relative to consecutive daily training, and we also demonstrated selective transfer in the right prefrontal group to nontrained tasks of visual and spatial WM. These findings shed light on how tDCS may be leveraged as a tool to enhance performance on WM-intensive learning tasks.

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