Prefrontal Cortex Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Treatment in Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (PreCoTTA): Study Protocol for a Double-Blind Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anagha S. Deshmukh ◽  
Samir Kumar Praharaj ◽  
Shweta Rai ◽  
Asha Kamath ◽  
Dinesh Upadhya
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Comprehensive Treatment ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Alcohol Dependence Syndrome

Background: Alcohol dependence is a significant public health problem, contributing to the global health burden. Due to its immense socio-economic burden, various psychosocial, psychological, and pharmacological approaches have attempted to alter the behaviour of the patient misusing or abusing alcohol, but their efficacy is modest at best. Therefore, there is a search for newer treatment approaches, including noninvasive brain stimulation in the management of alcohol dependence. We plan to study the efficacy of Prefrontal Cortex Transcranial direct current stimulation Treatment in Alcohol dependence syndrome (PreCoTTA). Methods: Two hundred twenty-five male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome will be randomized into the three study arms (2 active, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left orbitofrontal cortex, and 1 sham) to receive a total of 14 tDCS sessions (10 continuous and 4 booster sessions). Data will be collected from them at five different time points on clinical, neuropsychological and biochemical parameters. In addition, 225 healthy age and education matched controls will be administered the neuropsychological test battery at baseline for comparison with the patient group. Discussion: The proposed study aims to explore the use of non-invasive brain stimulation; tDCS as a treatment alternative. We also aim to overcome the methodological gaps of limited sample sizes, fewer tDCS intervention sessions, lack of long term follow ups to measure the sustainability of gains and lack comprehensive measures to track changes in functioning and abstinence after tDCS intervention. The main outcomes include clinical (reduction in cue-induced craving, time to first drink and QFI); neuropsychological (risk-taking, impulsivity, and other neuropsychological domains) and biochemical markers (BDNF, leptin and adiponectin). The findings of the study will have translational value as it may help to improve the clinician’s ability to effectively manage craving in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. Furthermore, we will have a better understanding of the neuropsychological and biochemical effects of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques which are of interest in the comprehensive treatment of addiction disorders. Trial registration: The study has been registered with the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2020/09/027582) on September 03rd 2020.

scholarly journals Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex influences perceived pleasantness of food

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric C Anderson ◽  
Julie Cantelon ◽  
Amanda Holmes ◽  
Grace Giles ◽  
Tad Brunye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Neuronal Excitability ◽  
Invasive Technique ◽  
Sham Stimulation ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal

The ability to regulate the intake of unhealthy foods is critical in modern, calorie dense food environments. Frontal areas of the brain, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), are thought to play a central role in cognitive control and emotional regulation. Therefore, increasing activity in the DLPFC may enhance these functions which could improve the ability to reappraise and resist consuming highly palatable but unhealthy foods. One technique for modifying brain activity is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive technique for modulating neuronal excitability that can influence performance on a range of cognitive tasks. We tested whether tDCS targeting the DLPFC would influence how people perceived highly palatable foods. In the present study, 98 participants were randomly assigned to receive a single session of active tDCS or sham stimulation. While receiving active or sham stimulation, participants viewed images of highly palatable foods and reported how pleasant it would be to eat each food (liking) and how strong their urge was to eat each food (wanting). We found that participants who received active versus sham tDCS stimulation perceived food as less pleasant, but there was no difference in how strong their urge was to eat the foods. Our findings suggest that modulating excitability in the DLPFC influences “liking” but not “wanting” of highly palatable foods. Non-invasive brain stimulation might be a useful technique for influencing the hedonic experience of eating and might have implications for changing food consumption.

Behavioral effects of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) induced dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plasticity in alcohol dependence

2013 ◽  
Vol 107 (6) ◽  
pp. 493-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgana Croce da Silva ◽  
Catarine Lima Conti ◽  
Jaisa Klauss ◽  
Luana Gaburro Alves ◽  
Henrique Mineiro do Nascimento Cavalcante ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Behavioral Effects ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal

scholarly journals Blinding is compromised for transcranial direct current stimulation at 1 mA for 20 minutes in young healthy adults

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zsolt Turi ◽  
Gábor Csifcsák ◽  
Nya Mehnwolo Boayue ◽  
Per Aslaksen ◽  
Andrea Antal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Stimulation Method ◽  
Subjective Reports

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that is frequently used to study cortical excitability changes and their impact on cognitive functions in humans. While most stimulators are capable of operating in double-blind mode, the amount of discomfort experienced during tDCS may break blinding. Therefore, specifically designed sham stimulation protocols are being used. The "fade-in, short-stimulation, fade-out" (FSF) protocol has been used in hundreds of studies and is commonly believed to be indistinguishable from real stimulation applied at 1 mA for 20 minutes. We analyzed subjective reports of 192 volunteers, who either received real tDCS (n=96) or FSF tDCS (n=96). Participants reported more discomfort for real tDCS and correctly guessed the condition above chance-level. These findings indicate that FSF does not ensure complete blinding and that better active sham protocols are needed.

scholarly journals Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: A Novel Neuromodulation Technique?

2014 ◽  
pp. iv
Author(s):  
Sujit Sarkhel
Keyword(s):  
Major Depression ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Electrical Current ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Direct Electrical Current

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a minimally invasive form of brainstimulation that uses direct electrical current to alter cortical excitability. During thisprocess, a weak, direct electrical current (1 to 2 mA) is applied using scalp surface electrodes.Anodal stimulation increases cortical excitability and cathodal stimulation decreases it. Thechanges in cortical excitability probably arise from the depolarization and hyperpolarization ofneurons.1 Interest in this treatment modality had begun way back in the 1960s but graduallywaned. Renewed interest began emerging in the 1990s following spurt in neuromodulationresearch using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Based on the theory of hypoactivityin left prefrontal cortex in depression, anodal tDCS has been applied to the left hemisphere toincrease activity and cathodal tDCS to the right hemisphere to decrease activity in order toresolve depression. Several open label and randomized controlled trials have been conductedto examine the efficacy of tDCS in treating major depression some of which have yieldedpositive results.2, 3, 4, tDCS has also been tried in Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use. 5, 6,7 tDCS is a cheap and non-invasive techniquewith minimal side effects like headache and itchiness and redness at the site of stimulation.It will require few years of systematic research to find out whether tDCS emerges as a cheap,non-invasive and above all, effective method for treatment of psychiatric disorders or it goesinto oblivion as another “fancy” brain gadget!REFERENCES1. Bindman LJ, Lippold OC, Redfearn JW. The action of brief polarizing currents on the cerebral cortex ofthe rat (1) during current flow and (2) in the production of long-lasting after-effects. J Physiol. 1964; 172 :369-382.2. Boggio PS, Rigonatti SP, Ribeiro RB, et al. A randomized, double-blind clinical trial on the efficacy of cortical direct currentstimulation for the treatment of major depression. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2008; 11 : 249-254.3. Brunoni AR, Ferrucci R, Bortolomasi M, et al. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in unipolar vs. bipolar depressivedisorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2011; 35 : 96-101.4. Fregni F, Boggio PS, Nitsche MA, et al. Cognitive effects of repeated sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation in patientswith depression. Depress Anxiety. 2006; 23 : 482-484.5. Kuo MF, Paulus W, Nitsche MA. Therapeutic effects of non-invasive brain stimulation with direct currents (tDCS) in neuropsychiatricdiseases.Neuroimage. 2014; 85 : 948-9606. Jansen JM, Daams JG, Koeter MW, etal.Effects of non-invasive neurostimulation on craving : a meta-analysis. Neuroscience BiobehavRev 2013; 37 : 2472-24807. Marin MF, Camprodon JA, Dougherty DD, et al. Device-based brain stimulation to augment fear extinction : implications for PTSDtreatment and beyond. Depress Anxiety 2014; 10 : 1-10

scholarly journals Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Applied to the Left Premotor Cortex Interferes with Explicit Reproduction of a Motor Sequence

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Bettina Pollok ◽  
Claire Schmitz-Justen ◽  
Vanessa Krause
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Sequence Learning ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Motor Sequence Learning ◽  
Motor Sequence ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Non Invasive

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that allows the modulation of cortical excitability. TDCS effects can outlast the stimulation period presumably due to changes of GABA concentration which play a critical role in use-dependent plasticity. Consequently, tDCS and learning-related synaptic plasticity are assumed to share common mechanisms. Motor sequence learning has been related to activation changes within a cortico-subcortical network and findings from a meta-analysis point towards a core network comprising the cerebellum as well as the primary motor (M1) and the dorsolateral premotor cortex (dPMC). The latter has been particularly related to explicit motor learning by means of brain imaging techniques. We here test whether tDCS applied to the left dPMC affects the acquisition and reproduction of an explicitly learned motor sequence. To this end, 18 healthy volunteers received anodal, cathodal and sham tDCS to the left dPMC and were then trained on a serial reaction time task (SRTT) with their right hand. Immediately after the training and after overnight sleep, reproduction of the learned sequence was tested by means of reaction times as well as explicit recall. Regression analyses suggest that following cathodal tDCS reaction times at the end of the SRTT training-block explained a significant proportion of the number of correctly reported sequence items after overnight sleep. The present data suggest the left premotor cortex as one possible target for the application of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in explicit motor sequence learning with the right hand.

scholarly journals Participant Experiences of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) as a Treatment for Antipsychotic Medication Induced Weight Gain

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiza Grycuk ◽  
Francesca Moruzzi ◽  
Elena Bardjesteh ◽  
Fiona Gaughran ◽  
Iain C. Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Study Recruitment ◽  
Perceived Effects ◽  
Insight Into

Background: Despite the growing number of studies on the use of non-invasive brain stimulation in people with schizophrenia, there is limited research on participant views of such treatment methods.Aim: Explore participant experiences and perceptions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).Methods: Twelve people with schizophrenia took part in semi-structured interviews after having completed 5 sessions of tDCS. Thematic analysis was used to identify codes and themes.Results: Five themes were identified: (1) motivation for study enrolment; (2) concerns about tDCS; (3) factors reducing the fear of tDCS; (4) experience of tDCS; (5) perceived effects of tDCS.Conclusions: The study provides insight into the perceptions and experiences of each individual. Participants were concerned about the safety of tDCS and associated it with invasive procedures such as electroconvulsive therapy and lobotomy. Educational materials and a good relationship with the researcher played an important role in reducing the fear of brain stimulation. All participants described tDCS as uncomfortable, however, agreed that unpleasant sensations only lasted for a short while (20 s−5 min). After the first session, participants no longer felt anxious about the remaining ones. Strategies to improve treatment experience and study recruitment have been identified.

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