The effect of combined treatment with transcranial direct current stimulation on cerebral blood flow in patients with cerebral palsy

Animal and transcranial magnetic stimulation motors have evoked potential studies suggesting that the currently used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) intensities produce measurable physiological changes. However, the validity, mechanisms, and general efficacy of this stimulation modality are currently being scrutinized. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex tDCS on cerebral blood flow. A sample of three people with multiple sclerosis underwent two blocks of five randomly assigned tDCS intensities (1, 2, 3, 4 mA, and sham; 5 min each) and [15O]water positron emission tomography imaging. The relative regional (i.e., areas under the electrodes) and global cerebral blood flow were calculated. The results revealed no notable differences in regional or global cerebral blood flow from the different tDCS intensities. Thus, 5 min of tDCS at 1, 2, 3, and 4 mA did not result in immediate changes in cerebral blood flow. To achieve sufficient magnitudes of intracranial electrical fields without direct peripheral side effects, novel methods may be required.

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Cerebral Blood Flow Changes After Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for a Patient With Schizophrenia: a Case Report

Journal of Neuropsychiatry ◽

10.1176/appi.neuropsych.13020039 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. E03-E05 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Pedro Shiozawa ◽

Mariana Monteiro Saldanha Altenfeld Santos ◽

Fernanda Xavier Piovesan ◽

Ada Pellegrinelli ◽

Mailu Enokibara da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Case Report ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Flow Changes

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Individual Cerebral Blood Flow Responses to Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation at Various Intensities

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci10110855 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 855

Author(s):

Craig D. Workman ◽

Alexandra C. Fietsam ◽

Laura L. Boles Ponto ◽

John Kamholz ◽

Thorsten Rudroff

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Cortical Excitability ◽

Regional Cerebral Blood ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽

The Brain

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to alter cortical excitability. However, it is increasingly accepted that tDCS has high inter- and intra-subject response variability, which currently limits broad application and has prompted some to doubt if the current can reach the brain. This study reports individual cerebral blood flow responses in people with multiple sclerosis and neurologically healthy subjects that experienced 5 min of anodal tDCS at 1 mA, 2 mA, 3 mA, and 4 mA over either the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or the primary motor cortex (M1). The most notable results indicated anticipated changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in two regions of one DLPFC subject (2 mA condition), and expected changes in one M1 subject in the 2 mA and 4 mA conditions and in another M1 subject in the 2 mA condition. There were also changes contrary to the expected direction in one DLPFC subject and in two M1 subjects. These data suggest the effects of tDCS might be site-specific and highlight the high variability and individualized responses increasingly reported in tDCS literature. Future studies should use longer stimulation durations and image at various time points after stimulation cessation when exploring the effects of tDCS on cerebral blood flow (CBF).

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