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Lamorie-Foote K, Kramer DR, Sundaram S, Cavaleri J, Gilbert ZD, Tang AM, Bashford L, Liu CY, Kellis S, Lee B. Primary somatosensory cortex organization for engineering artificial somatosensation. Neurosci Res 2024:S0168-0102(24)00009-9. [PMID: 38278220 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2024.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Somatosensory deficits from stroke, spinal cord injury, or other neurologic damage can lead to a significant degree of functional impairment. The primary (SI) and secondary (SII) somatosensory cortices encode information in a medial to lateral organization. SI is generally organized topographically, with more discrete cortical representations of specific body regions. SII regions corresponding to anatomical areas are less discrete and may represent a more functional rather than topographic organization. Human somatosensory research continues to map cortical areas of sensory processing with efforts primarily focused on hand and upper extremity information in SI. However, research into SII and other body regions is lacking. In this review, we synthesize the current state of knowledge regarding the cortical organization of human somatosensation and discuss potential applications for brain computer interface. In addition to accurate individualized mapping of cortical somatosensation, further research is required to uncover the neurophysiological mechanisms of how somatosensory information is encoded in the cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista Lamorie-Foote
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Daniel R Kramer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Shivani Sundaram
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| | - Jonathon Cavaleri
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Zachary D Gilbert
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Austin M Tang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Luke Bashford
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, T&C Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Y Liu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; USC Neurorestoration Center, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Spencer Kellis
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; USC Neurorestoration Center, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Brian Lee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; USC Neurorestoration Center, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Gurdiel-Álvarez F, González-Zamorano Y, Lerma-Lara S, Gómez-Soriano J, Sánchez-González JL, Fernández-Carnero J, Navarro-López V. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Effects on Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) and Nociceptive Processing in Healthy Subjects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Brain Sci 2023; 14:9. [PMID: 38275514 PMCID: PMC10813344 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to determine the effect that different tDCS protocols have on pain processing in healthy people, assessed using quantitative sensory tests (QST) and evoked pain intensity. METHODS We systematically searched in EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, PEDro, PsycInfo, and Web of Science. Articles on tDCS on a healthy population and regarding QST, such as pressure pain thresholds (PPT), heat pain thresholds (HPT), cold pain threshold (CPT), or evoked pain intensity were selected. Quality was analyzed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and PEDro scale. RESULTS Twenty-six RCTs were included in the qualitative analysis and sixteen in the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in PPTs between tDCS and sham, but differences were observed when applying tDCS over S1 in PPTs compared to sham. Significant differences in CPTs were observed between tDCS and sham over DLPFC and differences in pain intensity were observed between tDCS and sham over M1. Non-significant effects were found for the effects of tDCS on HPTs. CONCLUSION tDCS anodic over S1 stimulation increases PPTs, while a-tDCS over DLPFC affects CPTs. The HPTs with tDCS are worse. Finally, M1 a-tDCS seems to reduce evoked pain intensity in healthy subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Gurdiel-Álvarez
- International Doctorate School, Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Alcorcón, Spain; (F.G.-Á.); (Y.G.-Z.)
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Pain, and Rehabilitation Research Group (NECODOR), Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, Spain
| | - Yeray González-Zamorano
- International Doctorate School, Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Alcorcón, Spain; (F.G.-Á.); (Y.G.-Z.)
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Pain, and Rehabilitation Research Group (NECODOR), Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, Spain;
- Brain Injury and Movement Disorders Neurorehabilitation Group (GINDAT), Institute of Life Sciences, Francisco de Vitoria University, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Sergio Lerma-Lara
- Department of Physical Therapy, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28023 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Julio Gómez-Soriano
- Toledo Physiotherapy Research Group (GIFTO), Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, Universidad Castilla La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain;
| | - Juan Luis Sánchez-González
- Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Josué Fernández-Carnero
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Pain, and Rehabilitation Research Group (NECODOR), Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, Spain;
- La Paz Hospital Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, 28922 Madrid, Spain
- Musculoskeletal Pain and Motor Control Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Navarro-López
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, Spain;
- Movement Analysis, Biomechanics, Ergonomics, and Motor Control Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
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Khalil R, Karim AA, Godde B. Less might be more: 1 mA but not 1.5 mA of tDCS improves tactile orientation discrimination. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2023; 15:186-192. [PMID: 37746157 PMCID: PMC10511473 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2023.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a frequently used brain stimulation method; however, studies on tactile perception using tDCS are inconsistent, which might be explained by the variations in endogenous and exogenous parameters that influence tDCS. Objectives We aimed to investigate the effect of one of these endogenous parameters-the tDCS amplitude-on tactile perception. Methods We conducted this experiment on 28 undergraduates/graduates aged 18-36 years. In separate sessions, participants received 20 min of 1 mA or 1.5 mA current tDCS in a counterbalanced order. Half of the participants received anodal tDCS of the left SI coupled with cathodal tDCS of the right SI, and this montage was reversed for the other half. Pre- and post-tDCS tactile discrimination performance was assessed using the Grating Orientation Task (GOT). In this task, plastic domes with gratings of different widths cut into their surfaces are placed on the fingertip, and participants have to rate the orientation of the gratings. Results Linear modeling with amplitude, dome, and session as within factors and montage as between factors revealed the following: significant main effects of grating width, montage, and session and a marginally significant interaction effect of session and amplitude. Posthoc t-tests indicated that performance in GOT improved after 1 mA but not 1.5 mA tDCS independent of the montage pattern of the electrodes. Conclusion Increasing the stimulation amplitude from 1 mA to 1.5 mA does not facilitate the tDCS effect on GOT performance. On the contrary, the effect seemed more robust for the lower-current amplitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwa Khalil
- School of Business, Social and Decision Sciences, Constructor University, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ahmed A. Karim
- School of Business, Social and Decision Sciences, Constructor University, Bremen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Health Psychology and Neurorehabilitation, SRH Mobile University, Riedlingen, Germany
| | - Ben Godde
- School of Business, Social and Decision Sciences, Constructor University, Bremen, Germany
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Garcia-Larrea L. Non-invasive cortical stimulation for drug-resistant pain. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2023; 17:142-149. [PMID: 37339516 DOI: 10.1097/spc.0000000000000654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Neuromodulation techniques are being increasingly used to alleviate pain and enhance quality of life. Non-invasive cortical stimulation was originally intended to predict the efficacy of invasive (neurosurgical) techniques, but has now gained a place as an analgesic procedure in its own right. RECENT FINDINGS Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): Evidence from 14 randomised, placebo-controlled trials (~750 patients) supports a significant analgesic effect of high-frequency motor cortex rTMS in neuropathic pain. Dorsolateral frontal stimulation has not proven efficacious so far. The posterior operculo-insular cortex is an attractive target but evidence remains insufficient. Short-term efficacy can be achieved with NNT (numbers needed to treat) ~2-3, but long-lasting efficacy remains a challenge.Like rTMS, transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) induces activity changes in distributed brain networks and can influence various aspects of pain. Lower cost relative to rTMS, few safety issues and availability of home-based protocols are practical advantages. The limited quality of many published reports lowers the level of evidence, which will remain uncertain until more prospective controlled studies are available. SUMMARY Both rTMS and tDCS act preferentially upon abnormal hyperexcitable states of pain, rather than acute or experimental pain. For both techniques, M1 appears to be the best target for chronic pain relief, and repeated sessions over relatively long periods of time may be required to obtain clinically significant benefits. Patients responsive to tDCS may differ from those improved by rTMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Garcia-Larrea
- Central Integration of Pain (NeuroPain) Lab, Lyon Centre for Neuroscience (CRNL), INSERM U1028, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne
- University Hospital Pain Centre (CETD), Neurological Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
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5
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Parreira RB, Oliveira CS. Improvement of motor control in neurological patients through motor evoked potential changes induced by transcranial direct current stimulation therapy: A meta-analysis study. Gait Posture 2023; 106:53-64. [PMID: 37660514 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) seems to facilitate and/or inhibit neural activity and improve motor function in neurological patients. However, it is important to confirm such improvements as well as determine the association between neurophysiological changes and the enhancement of motor control. RESEARCH QUESTION Does the improvement of motor control in neurological patients after transcranial direct current stimulation translate into changes in the motor evoked potential? METHODS A systematic electronic search strategy was employed to identify studies indexed in the PubMed, BIREME, and COCHRANE databases using a combination of search terms adapted to each database: transcranial direct current stimulation; evoked potential motor; and motor control. Relevant data was extracted from each selected article and methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Standard mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were pooled using a random-effects model. Moreover, standard methods were employed for assessment of the heterogeneity of the studies. RESULTS Thirteen articles were included in this review. Anodal tDCS was found to increase the amplitude and diminish the latency of the MEP, which correlated positively with improvements in motor control. However, the improvement in MEP did not persist over time. SIGNIFICANCE Despite the paucity of studies, positive effects are found when combining anodal tDCS and a therapeutic intervention, such as an improvement in MEP and better motor control in neurological patients. Future studies should include neurophysiological measures other than MEP and consider a homogenous analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Borges Parreira
- Health Sciences Program, Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, Doutor Cesário Motta Júnior st. #61, zip code 01221-020, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; PostureLab, 20 rue du rendez-vous, 75012 Paris, France; Universidade Evangelica de Goias, Universitária av. 3,5 - Cidade Universitária, zip code: 75083-515, Anápolis, GO, Brazil.
| | - Claudia Santos Oliveira
- Health Sciences Program, Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, Doutor Cesário Motta Júnior st. #61, zip code 01221-020, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Universidade Evangelica de Goias, Universitária av. 3,5 - Cidade Universitária, zip code: 75083-515, Anápolis, GO, Brazil.
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Kold S, Kragh AJ, Graven-Nielsen CS, Elnegaard FS, Lund F, Vittrup IV, Cliff KL, Sivarooban R, Petrini L. Neuromodulation of somatosensory pain thresholds of the neck musculature using a novel transcranial direct current stimulation montage: a randomized double-blind, sham controlled study. Scand J Pain 2022; 22:622-630. [PMID: 35130374 DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2021-0187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of primary motor cortex (M1) and cathodal of the primary sensory cortex (S1) have previously shown to modulate the sensory thresholds when administered with the reference electrode located over the contralateral supraorbital area (SO). Combining the two stimulation paradigms into one with simultaneous stimulation of the two brain areas (M1 + S1 - tDCS) may result in a synergistic effect inducing a prominent neuromodulation, noticeable in the pain thresholds. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of the novel M1 + S1 - tDCS montage compared to sham-stimulation in modulating the pain thresholds in healthy adults. METHODS Thirty-nine (20 males) subjects were randomly assigned to either receiving 20 min. active M1 + S1 - tDCS or sham tDCS in a double-blinded single session study. Thermal and mechanical pain thresholds were assessed before and after the intervention. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the pain thresholds within either group, or between the M1 + S1 - tDCS group and the Sham-tDCS group (p>0.05), indicating that the intervention was ineffective in inducing a neuromodulation of the somatosensory system. CONCLUSIONS Experimental investigations of novel tDCS electrode montages, that are scientifically based on existing studies or computational modelling, are essential to establish better tDCS protocols. Here simultaneous transcranial direct current stimulation of the primary motor cortex and primary sensory cortex showed no effect on the pain thresholds of the neck musculature in healthy subjects. This tDCS montage may have been ineffective due to how the electrical field reaches the targeted neurons, or may have been limited by the design of a single tDCS administration. The study adds to the existing literature of the studies investigating effects of new tDCS montages with the aim of establishing novel non-invasive brain stimulation interventions for chronic neck pain rehabilitation. North Denmark Region Committee on Health Research Ethics (VN-20180085) ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04658485).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Kold
- Department of Health Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Anna J Kragh
- Department of Health Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Christoffer S Graven-Nielsen
- Department of Health Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Frederikke S Elnegaard
- Department of Health Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Fredrik Lund
- Department of Health Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Ida V Vittrup
- Department of Health Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Katja L Cliff
- Department of Health Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Rathiba Sivarooban
- Department of Health Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Laura Petrini
- Department of Health Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Sasaki R, Watanabe H, Onishi H. Therapeutic benefits of noninvasive somatosensory cortex stimulation on cortical plasticity and somatosensory function: a systematic review. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:4669-4698. [PMID: 35804487 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Optimal limb coordination requires efficient transmission of somatosensory information to the sensorimotor cortex. The primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is frequently damaged by stroke, resulting in both somatosensory and motor impairments. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to the primary motor cortex is thought to induce neural plasticity that facilitates neurorehabilitation. Several studies have also examined if NIBS to the S1 can enhance somatosensory processing as assessed by somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) and improve behavioral task performance, but it remains uncertain if NIBS can reliably modulate S1 plasticity or even whether SEPs can reflect this plasticity. This systematic review revealed that NIBS has relatively minor effects on SEPs or somatosensory task performance, but larger early SEP changes after NIBS can still predict improved performance. Similarly, decreased paired-pulse inhibition in S1 post-NIBS is associated with improved somatosensory performance. However, several studies still debate the role of inhibitory function in somatosensory performance after NIBS in terms of the direction of the change (that, disinhibition or inhibition). Altogether, early SEP and paired-pulse inhibition (particularly inter-stimulus intervals of 30-100 ms) may become useful biomarkers for somatosensory deficits, but improved NIBS protocols are required for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoki Sasaki
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.,Discipline of Physiology, School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Hiraku Watanabe
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.,Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hideaki Onishi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.,Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
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Kold S, Graven-Nielsen T. Modulation Of Experimental Prolonged Pain and Sensitization Using High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: A Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Study. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2022; 23:1220-1233. [PMID: 35202795 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2022.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
High definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) targeting brain areas involved in pain processing has shown analgesic effects in some chronic pain conditions, but less modulatory effect on mechanical and thermal pain thresholds in asymptomatic subjects. This double-blinded study assessed the HD-tDCS effects on experimental pain and hyperalgesia maintained for several days in healthy participants. Hyperalgesia and pain were assessed during three consecutive days following provocation of experimental pain (nerve growth factor injected into the right-hand muscle) and daily HD-tDCS sessions (20-minutes). Forty subjects were randomly assigned to Active-tDCS targeting primary motor cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex simultaneously or Sham-tDCS. Tactile and pressure pain sensitivity were assessed before and after each HD-tDCS session, as well as the experimentally-induced pain intensity scored on a numerical rating scale (NRS). Subjects were effectively blinded to the type of HD-tDCS protocol. The Active-tDCS did not significantly reduce the NGF-induced NRS pain score (3.5±2.4) compared to Sham-tDCS (3.9±2.0, P > .05) on day 3 and both groups showed similarly NGF-decreased pressure pain threshold in the right hand (P < .001). Comparing Active-tDCS with Sham-tDCS, the manifestation of pressure hyperalgesia was delayed on day 1, and an immediate (pre-HD-tDCS to post-HD-tDCS) reduction in pressure hyperalgesia was found across all days (P < .05). PERSPECTIVE: The non-significant differences between Active-tDCS and Sham-tDCS on experimental prolonged pain and hyperalgesia suggest that HD-tDCS has no effect on moderate persistent experimental pain. The intervention may still have a positive effect in more severe pain conditions, with increased intensity, more widespread distribution, or increased duration and/or involving stronger affective components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Kold
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Denmark
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9
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Garcia-Larrea L, Quesada C. Cortical stimulation for chronic pain: from anecdote to evidence. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2022; 58:290-305. [PMID: 35343176 PMCID: PMC9980528 DOI: 10.23736/s1973-9087.22.07411-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Epidural stimulation of the motor cortex (eMCS) was devised in the 1990's, and has now largely supplanted thalamic stimulation for neuropathic pain relief. Its mechanisms of action involve activation of multiple cortico-subcortical areas initiated in the thalamus, with involvement of endogenous opioids and descending inhibition toward the spinal cord. Evidence for clinical efficacy is now supported by at least seven RCTs; benefits may persist up to 10 years, and can be reasonably predicted by preoperative use of non-invasive repetitive magnetic stimulation (rTMS). rTMS first developed as a means of predicting the efficacy of epidural procedures, then as an analgesic method on its own right. Reasonable evidence from at least six well-conducted RCTs favors a significant analgesic effect of high-frequency rTMS of the motor cortex in neuropathic pain (NP), and less consistently in widespread/fibromyalgic pain. Stimulation of the dorsolateral frontal cortex (DLPFC) has not proven efficacious for pain, so far. The posterior operculo-insular cortex is a new and attractive target but evidence remains inconsistent. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is applied upon similar targets as rTMS and eMCS; it does not elicit action potentials but modulates the neuronal resting membrane state. tDCS presents practical advantages including low cost, few safety issues, and possibility of home-based protocols; however, the limited quality of most published reports entails a low level of evidence. Patients responsive to tDCS may differ from those improved by rTMS, and in both cases repeated sessions over a long time may be required to achieve clinically significant relief. Both invasive and non-invasive procedures exert their effects through multiple distributed brain networks influencing the sensory, affective and cognitive aspects of chronic pain. Their effects are mainly exerted upon abnormally sensitized pathways, rather than on acute physiological pain. Extending the duration of long-term benefits remains a challenge, for which different strategies are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Garcia-Larrea
- Central Integration of Pain (NeuroPain) Lab, Lyon Center for Neuroscience (CRNL), INSERM U1028, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France - .,University Hospital Pain Center (CETD), Neurological Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France -
| | - Charles Quesada
- Central Integration of Pain (NeuroPain) Lab, Lyon Center for Neuroscience (CRNL), INSERM U1028, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France.,Department of Physiotherapy, Sciences of Rehabilitation Institute (ISTR), University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
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10
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Li X, Lin X, Yao J, Chen S, Hu Y, Liu J, Jin R. Effects of High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Primary Motor Cortex on Cold Pain Sensitivity Among Healthy Adults. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:853509. [PMID: 35370540 PMCID: PMC8971908 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.853509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Some clinical studies have shown promising effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) on pain relief. Nevertheless, a few studies reported no significant analgesic effects of tDCS, likely due to the complexity of clinical pain conditions. Human experimental pain models that utilize indices of pain in response to well-controlled noxious stimuli can avoid many confounds that are present in the clinical data. This study aimed to investigate the effects of high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) stimulation over M1 on sensitivity to experimental pain and assess whether these effects could be influenced by the pain-related cognitions and emotions. A randomized, double-blinded, crossover, and sham-controlled design was adopted. A total of 28 healthy participants received anodal, cathodal, or sham HD-tDCS over M1 (1 mA for 20 min) in different sessions, in which montage has the advantage of producing more focal stimulation. Using a cold pressor test, several indices reflecting the sensitivity to cold pain were measured immediately after HD-tDCS stimulation, such as cold pain threshold and tolerance and cold pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings. Results showed that only anodal HD-tDCS significantly increased cold pain threshold when compared with sham stimulation. Neither anodal nor cathodal HD-tDCS showed significant analgesic effects on cold pain tolerance, pain intensity, and unpleasantness ratings. Correlation analysis revealed that individuals that a had lower level of attentional bias to negative information benefited more from attenuating pain intensity rating induced by anodal HD-tDCS. Therefore, single-session anodal HD-tDCS modulates the sensory-discriminative aspect of pain perception as indexed by the increased pain threshold. In addition, the modulating effects of HD-tDCS on attenuating pain intensity to suprathreshold pain could be influenced by the participant’s negative attentional bias, which deserves to be taken into consideration in the clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Li
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinxin Lin
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junjie Yao
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shengxiong Chen
- Medical Rehabilitation Center, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu Hu
- Medical Rehabilitation Center, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Richu Jin
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Richu Jin,
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Jiang X, Wang Y, Wan R, Feng B, Zhang Z, Lin Y, Wang Y. The effect of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on pain processing in a healthy population: A single-blinded crossover controlled study. Neurosci Lett 2022; 767:136304. [PMID: 34695451 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is increasingly used in pain treatment. tDCS targeting both primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may modulate the descending pain inhibitory system, however, it remains controversial regarding the optimal stimulation region for pain modulation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effects of high-definition anodic stimulation of M1 and DLPFC on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and pain thresholds and establish a preferred stimulation setting. Twenty-six healthy adults were randomly assigned to M1-tDCS, DLPFC-tDCS, or sham-tDCS groups. During the three sessions, each participant received an active or sham stimulation of 2 mA for 20 min, with at least 3 days' interval between sessions. Quantitative sensory tests were performed to obtain pressure pain threshold (PPT), cold pain threshold (CPT), and CPM before and after the tDCS intervention. Only M1-tDCS significantly increased CPM in healthy individuals compared with sham control (P = 0.004). No statistically significant difference was found in PPT and CPT between tDCS vs. sham control (P > 0.05). Our findings further support the important role of M1 as a target in pain regulation. Further large-scale, multicenter studies in chronic pain populations are needed to validate the alterations of distinct target brain regions related to pain and thus for an optimal target stimulation strategy in pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Jiang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yafei Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruihan Wan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
| | - Beibei Feng
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Orthopedics & Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China
| | - Ziping Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yangyang Lin
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuling Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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12
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Montoro CI, Winterholler C, Terrasa JL, Montoya P. Somatosensory Gating Is Modulated by Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:651253. [PMID: 34557064 PMCID: PMC8452934 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.651253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the somatosensory cortex causes cerebral hyperexcitability and a significant enhancement in pain thresholds and tactile spatial acuity. Sensory gating is a brain mechanism to suppress irrelevant incoming inputs, which is elicited by presenting pairs of identical stimuli (S1 and S2) within short time intervals between stimuli (e.g., 500 ms). Objectives/Hypothesis The present study addressed the question of whether tDCS could modulate the brain correlates of this inhibitory mechanism. Methods Forty-one healthy individuals aged 18–26 years participated in the study and were randomly assigned to tDCS (n = 21) or SHAM (n = 20). Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) elicited by S1 and S2 pneumatic stimuli (duration of 100 ms, ISI 550 ± 50 ms) and applied to the index finger of the dominant hand were recorded before and after tDCS. Results Before the intervention, the second tactile stimuli significantly attenuated the amplitudes of P50, N100, and the late positive complex (LPC, mean amplitude in the time window 150–350) compared to the first stimuli. This confirmed that sensory gating is a widespread brain inhibitory mechanism that can affect early- and middle-latency components of SEPs. Furthermore, our data revealed that this response attenuation or sensory gating (computed as S1 minus S2) was improved after tDCS for LPC, while no changes were found in participants who received SHAM. Conclusion All these findings suggested that anodal tDCS might modulate brain excitability leading to an enhancement of inhibitory mechanisms elicited in response to repetitive somatosensory stimuli during late stages of information processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casandra I Montoro
- Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Palma, Spain
| | - Christine Winterholler
- Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Palma, Spain
| | - Juan L Terrasa
- Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Palma, Spain
| | - Pedro Montoya
- Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Palma, Spain
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13
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Yamamoto K, Elias GJB, Beyn ME, Zemmar A, Loh A, Sarica C, Germann J, Parmar R, Wong EHY, Boutet A, Kalia S, Hodaie M, Lozano AM. Neuromodulation for Pain: A Comprehensive Survey and Systematic Review of Clinical Trials and Connectomic Analysis of Brain Targets. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2021; 100:14-25. [PMID: 34380132 DOI: 10.1159/000517873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that imposes a tremendous burden on health-care systems around the world. While frontline treatments for chronic pain involve pharmacological and psychological approaches, neuromodulation can be considered for treatment-resistant cases. Neuromodulatory approaches for pain are diverse in both modality and target and their mechanism of action is incompletely understood. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to (i) understand the current landscape of pain neuromodulation research through a comprehensive survey of past and current registered clinical trials (ii) investigate the network underpinnings of these neuromodulatory treatments by performing a connectomic mapping analysis of cortical and subcortical brain targets that have been stimulated for pain relief. METHODS A search for clinical trials involving pain neuromodulation was conducted using 2 major trial databases (ClinicalTrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform). Trials were categorized by variables and analyzed to gain an overview of the contemporary research landscape. Additionally, a connectomic mapping analysis was performed to investigate the network connectivity patterns of analgesic brain stimulation targets using a normative connectome based on a functional magnetic resonance imaging dataset. RESULTS In total, 487 relevant clinical trials were identified. Noninvasive cortical stimulation and spinal cord stimulation trials represented 49.3 and 43.7% of this count, respectively, while deep brain stimulation trials accounted for <3%. The mapping analysis revealed that superficial target connectomics overlapped with deep target connectomics, suggesting a common pain network across the targets. CONCLUSIONS Research for pain neuromodulation is a rapidly growing field. Our connectomic network analysis reinforced existing knowledge of the pain matrix, identifying both well-described hubs and more obscure structures. Further studies are needed to decode the circuits underlying pain relief and determine the most effective targets for neuromodulatory treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuaki Yamamoto
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
| | - Gavin J B Elias
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle E Beyn
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ajmal Zemmar
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Neurosurgery, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan University People's Hospital, Henan University School of Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Aaron Loh
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Can Sarica
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jürgen Germann
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roohie Parmar
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emily H Y Wong
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexandre Boutet
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Suneil Kalia
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mojgan Hodaie
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andres M Lozano
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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tDCS randomized controlled trials in no-structural diseases: a quantitative review. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16311. [PMID: 34381076 PMCID: PMC8357949 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95084-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing number and quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) employing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) denote the rising awareness of neuroscientific community about its electroceutical potential and opening to include these treatments in the framework of medical therapies under the indications of the international authorities. The purpose of this quantitative review is to estimate the recommendation strength applying the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria and PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) model values for effective tDCS treatments on no-structural diseases, and to provide an estimate of Sham effect for future RCTs. Applying GRADE evaluation pathway, we searched in literature the tDCS-based RCTs in psychophysical diseases displaying a major involvement of brain electrical activity imbalances. Three independent authors agreed on Class 1 RCTs (18 studies) and meta-analyses were carried out using a random-effects model for pathologies sub-selected based on PICO and systemic involvement criteria. The meta-analysis integrated with extensive evidence of negligible side effects and low-cost, easy-to-use procedures, indicated that tDCS treatments for depression and fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis ranked between moderately and highly recommendable. For these interventions we reported the PICO variables, with left vs. right dorsolateral prefrontal target for 30 min/10 days against depression and bilateral somatosensory vs occipital target for 15 min/5 days against MS fatigue. An across-diseases meta-analysis devoted to the Sham effect provided references for power analysis in future tDCS RCTs on these clinical conditions. High-quality indications support tDCS as a promising tool to build electroceutical treatments against diseases involving neurodynamics alterations.
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15
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Li X, Yao J, Zhang W, Chen S, Peng W. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on experimental pain perception: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 132:2163-2175. [PMID: 34284252 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many studies have examined the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on human pain perception in both healthy populations and pain patients. Nevertheless, studies have yielded conflicting results, likely due to differences in stimulation parameters, experimental paradigms, and outcome measures. Human experimental pain models that utilize indices of pain in response to well-controlled noxious stimuli can avoid many confounds present in clinical data. This study aimed to assess the robustness of tDCS effects on experimental pain perception among healthy populations. METHODS We conducted three meta-analyses that analyzed tDCS effects on ratings of perceived pain intensity to suprathreshold noxious stimuli, pain threshold and tolerance. RESULTS The meta-analyses showed a statically significant tDCS effect on attenuating pain-intensity ratings to suprathreshold noxious stimuli. In contrast, tDCS effects on pain threshold and pain tolerance were statistically non-significant. Moderator analysis further suggested that stimulation parameters (active electrode size and current density) and experimental pain modality moderated the effectiveness of tDCS in attenuating pain-intensity ratings. CONCLUSION The effectiveness of tDCS on attenuating experimental pain perception depends on both stimulation parameters of tDCS and the modality of experimental pain. SIGNIFICANCE This study provides some theoretical basis for the application of tDCS in pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Li
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junjie Yao
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenyun Zhang
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shengxiong Chen
- Medical Rehabilitation Center, Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weiwei Peng
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
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16
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Effect of anodal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on the pain sensitivity in a healthy population: a double-blind, sham-controlled study. Pain 2021; 162:1659-1668. [PMID: 33449508 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) of brain areas related to pain processing may provide analgesic effects evident in the sensory detection and pain thresholds. The somatosensory sensitivity was assessed after HD-tDCS targeting the primary motor cortex (M1) and/or the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Eighty-one (40 females) subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 anodal HD-tDCS protocols (20 minutes) applied on 3 consecutive days: Sham-tDCS, DLPFC-tDCS, M1-tDCS, and DLPFC&M1-tDCS (simultaneous transcranial direct current stimulation [tDCS] of DLPFC and M1). Subjects and experimenter were blinded to the tDCS protocols. The somatosensory sensitivity were assessed each day, before and after each tDCS by detection and pain thresholds to thermal and mechanical skin stimulation, vibration detection thresholds, and pressure pain thresholds. Subjects were effectively blinded to the protocol, with no significant difference in rates of whether they received real or placebo tDCS between the 4 groups. Compared with the Sham-tDCS, none of the active HD-tDCS protocols caused significant changes in detection or pain thresholds. Independent of tDCS protocols, pain and detection thresholds except vibration detection were increased immediately after the first tDCS protocol compared with baseline (P < 0.05). Overall, the active stimulation protocols were not able to induce significant modulation of the somatosensory thresholds in this healthy population compared with sham-tDCS. Unrelated to the HD-tDCS protocol, a decreased sensitivity was found after the first intervention, indicating a placebo effect or possible habituation to the quantitative sensory testing assessments. These findings add to the increasing literature of null findings in the modulatory effects of HD-tDCS on the healthy somatosensory system.
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17
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Effectiveness of Unihemispheric Concurrent Dual-Site Stimulation over M1 and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation on Pain Processing: A Triple Blind Cross-Over Control Trial. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11020188. [PMID: 33557028 PMCID: PMC7913659 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11020188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the motor cortex (M1) produces short-term inhibition of pain. Unihemispheric concurrent dual-site tDCS (UHCDS-tDCS) over the M1 and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has greater effects on cortical excitability than when applied alone, although its effect on pain is unknown. The aim of this study was to test if anodal UHCDS-tDCS over the M1 and DLPFC in healthy participants could potentiate conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and diminish pain temporal summation (TS). Methods: Thirty participants were randomized to receive a sequence of UHCDS-tDCS, M1-tDCS and sham-tDCS. A 20 min 0.1 mA/cm2 anodal or sham-tDCS intervention was applied to each participant during three test sessions, according to a triple-blind cross-over trial design. For the assessment of pain processing before and after tDCS intervention, the following tests were performed: tourniquet conditioned pain modulation (CPM), pressure pain temporal summation (TS), pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), pressure pain tolerance, mechanosensitivity and cold hyperalgesia. Motor function before and after tDCS intervention was assessed with a dynamometer to measure maximal isometric grip strength. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between groups for CPM, pressure pain TS, PPT, pressure pain tolerance, neural mechanosensitivity, cold hyperalgesia or grip strength (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Neither UHCDS-tDCS nor M1-tDCS facilitated CPM or inhibited TS in healthy subjects following one intervention session.
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18
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Effects of tDCS on Tactile Perception Depend on Tactile Expertise in Both Musicians and Non-Musicians. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10110843. [PMID: 33198132 PMCID: PMC7697490 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain plasticity in the somatosensory cortex and tactile performance can be facilitated by brain stimulation. Here, we investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on tactile perception in musicians and non-musicians to elucidate how tDCS-effects might depend on tactile expertise. On three separate days, 17 semi-professional musicians (e.g., piano or violin players) and 16 non-musicians aged 18-27 years received 15 min of 1 mA anodal (a-tDCS), cathodal (c-tDCS) or sham tDCS in a pseudorandomized design. Pre and post tDCS, tactile sensitivity (Touch Detection Task; TDT) and discrimination performance (Grating Orientation Task; GOT) were assessed. For further analysis, the weekly hours of instrument-playing and computer-typing were combined into a "tactile experience" variable. For GOT, but not TDT, a significant group effect at baseline was revealed with musicians performing better than non-musicians. TDT thresholds were significantly reduced after a-tDCS but not c-tDCS or sham stimulation. While both musicians' and non-musicians' performance improved after anodal stimulation, neither musical nor tactile expertise was directly associated with the magnitude of this improvement. Low performers in TDT with high tactile experience profited most from a-tDCS. We conclude that tactile expertise may facilitate somatosensory cortical plasticity and tactile learning in low performers.
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19
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Brasil-Neto JP, Iannone A, Caixeta FV, Cavendish BA, de Mello Cruz AP, Buratto LG. Acute offline transcranial direct current stimulation does not change pain or anxiety produced by the cold pressor test. Neurosci Lett 2020; 736:135300. [PMID: 32781010 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) has an antalgic effect on acute experimental pain in healthy volunteers. Many published studies have used online stimulation (i.e., tDCS performed during painful stimulation). On the other hand, daily tDCS sessions have been proposed as a therapy for chronic pain (offline tDCS). In such cases, the therapeutic potential depends on the possible aftereffects of each tDCS session. We set out to investigate whether a single tDCS session before application of a classical experimental pain paradigm (the Cold Pressor Test, CPT) would be capable of modulating physiological measures of anxiety as well as pain perception. tDCS was applied to 30 healthy volunteers, 18-28 years old (mean 18.5), with the anode positioned over either the left M1 or the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (l-DLPFC), which has been linked to the affective aspects of experienced pain, including anxiety. All volunteers underwent the CPT procedure before and after a tDCS session. Real 2 mA tDCS sessions for 20 min were compared to sham stimulations. No significant difference was found for any variable after real tDCS sessions when compared to the sham stimulations. This result suggests that effective offline tDCS for chronic pain might have different mechanisms of action. Cumulative effects, functional targeting and the unintended simultaneous stimulation of both M1 and the l-DLPFC are likely responsible for the therapeutic effects of tDCS sessions in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim P Brasil-Neto
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil.
| | - Aline Iannone
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Fabio Viegas Caixeta
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Araújo Cavendish
- Institute of Psychology, Department of Basic Psychological Processes, University of Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | - Luciano Grüdtner Buratto
- Institute of Psychology, Department of Basic Psychological Processes, University of Brasilia, Brazil
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20
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Alwardat M, Pisani A, Etoom M, Carpenedo R, Chinè E, Dauri M, Leonardis F, Natoli S. Is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effective for chronic low back pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2020; 127:1257-1270. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-020-02223-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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21
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Young DR, Parikh PJ, Layne CS. Non-invasive Brain Stimulation of the Posterior Parietal Cortex Alters Postural Adaptation. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:248. [PMID: 32676017 PMCID: PMC7333640 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective central sensory integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive information is required to promote adaptability in response to changes in the environment during postural control. Patients with a lesion in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) have an impaired ability to form an internal representation of body position, an important factor for postural control and adaptation. Suppression of PPC excitability has also been shown to decrease postural stability in some contexts. As of yet, it is unknown whether stimulation of the PPC may influence postural adaptation. This investigation aimed to identify whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the bilateral PPC could modulate postural adaptation in response to a bipedal incline postural adaptation task. Using young, healthy subjects, we delivered tDCS over bilateral PPC followed by bouts of inclined stance (incline-interventions). Analysis of postural after-effects identified differences between stimulation conditions for maximum lean after-effect (LAE; p = 0.005) as well as a significant interaction between condition and measurement period for the average position (p = 0.03). We identified impaired postural adaptability following both active stimulation conditions. Results reinforce the notion that the PPC is involved in motor adaptation and extend this line of research to the realm of standing posture. The results further highlight the role of the bilateral PPC in utilizing sensory feedback to update one's internal representation of verticality and demonstrates the diffuse regions of the brain that are involved in postural control and adaptation. This information improves our understanding of the role of the cortex in postural control, highlighting the potential for the PPC as a target for sensorimotor rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Young
- Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Pranav J Parikh
- Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Charles S Layne
- Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Neuro-Engineering and Cognitive Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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Lim H, Kim WS, Ku J. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Effect on Virtual Hand Illusion. CYBERPSYCHOLOGY BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 2020; 23:541-549. [PMID: 32478563 DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2019.0741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) is effectively used to evoke the mirror illusion, and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) synergistically facilitates this illusion. This study investigated whether a mirror virtual hand illusion (MVHI) induced by an immersive, first-person-perspective, virtual mirror system could be modulated by tDCS of the primary motor cortex. Fourteen healthy adults (average age 21.86 years ±0.47, seven men and seven women) participated in this study, and they experienced VR with and without tDCS-the tDCS and sham conditions, each of which takes ∼30 minutes-on separate days to allow the washout of the tDCS effect. While experiencing VR, the movements of the virtual left hand reflected the flexion and extension of the real right hand. Subsequently, electroencephalogram was recorded, the magnitude of the proprioceptive shift was measured, and the participants provided responses to a questionnaire regarding hand ownership. A significant difference in the proprioceptive shift was observed between the tDCS and sham conditions. In addition, there was significant suppression of the mu power in Pz, and augmentation of the beta power in the Pz, P4, O1, and O2 channels. The difference in proprioceptive deviation between the two conditions showed significant negative correlation with mu suppression over the left frontal lobe in the tDCS condition. Finally, the question "I felt that the virtual hand was my own hand" received a significantly higher score under the tDCS condition. In short, applying tDCS over the motor cortex facilitates the MVHI by activating the attentional network over the parietal and frontal lobes such that the MVHI induces more proprioceptive drift, which suggests that the combination of VR and tDCS can enhance the immersive effect in VR. This result provides better support for the use of the MVHI paradigm in combination with tDCS for recovery from illnesses such as stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunmi Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Seok Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jeonghun Ku
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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23
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Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on joint flexibility and pain in sedentary male individuals. Sci Sports 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scispo.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Rahimi MD, Fadardi JS, Saeidi M, Bigdeli I, Kashiri R. Effectiveness of cathodal tDCS of the primary motor or sensory cortex in migraine: A randomized controlled trial. Brain Stimul 2020; 13:675-682. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
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Yamamoto S, Ishii D, Ichiba N, Yozu A, Kohno Y. Cathodal tDCS on the motor area decreases the tactile threshold of the distal pulp of the hallux. Neurosci Lett 2020; 719:133887. [PMID: 30339919 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to modulate cortical excitability. Most studies on this topic addressed the modulation effects of tDCS on the upper extremities. Foot-sole tactile sensation is essential to gait, but little is known about the effect of tDCS on sensory function in the foot area. Here we administered tDCS to 10 healthy adults, and we observed that the modulation effects of cathodal tDCS on the left motor area led to a decrease in the tactile threshold of the left center of the distal pulp of the hallux. This effect was not observed in the sham condition. In addition, the subjects' vigilance levels were not changed between before and after the tDCS. These results suggest that sensation on the sole of the left foot could be modulated by cathodal tDCS on the left motor area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Yamamoto
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Healthcare, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0394, Japan.
| | - Daisuke Ishii
- Center for Medical Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0394, Japan; Department of Cognitive Behavioral Physiology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Nao Ichiba
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Healthcare, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0394, Japan
| | - Arito Yozu
- Center for Medical Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0394, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kohno
- Center for Medical Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0394, Japan
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26
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Henriques IAD, Lattari E, Torres G, Rodrigues GM, Oliveira BRR, Neto GAM, Neto SRM, Machado S. Can transcranial direct current stimulation improve range of motion and modulate pain perception in healthy individuals? Neurosci Lett 2019; 707:134311. [PMID: 31158433 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of different electrode assemblies and electric current polarity on the ROM of the hip and pain perception. Ten healthy male, sedentary, right-leg-dominant, and aged between 19 and 30 years (24.0 ± 4.0 years) subjects were recruited. For the experimental conditions, the application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was performed with the following montages. In the montage 1, the cathodal electrode was placed over the motor cortex (MC) horizontally, and the anodal electrode was positioned over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In the montage 2, the anodal electrode was placed over the MC bilaterally, and the cathode electrode was positioned over the left DLPFC. The sham montage was the same as the montage 1. In the montage 1 and 2 stimulation was applied with 2 mA current intensity for 20 min. In the Sham condition, the stimulator was turned off after 30 s of active stimulation and the electrodes remained on the participants for 20 min. Before and after experimental conditions (Pre-stimulation, Post-stimulation), the maximum Hip ROM and pain perception was measured. For the Montage 1, the maximum Hip ROM increased in post-stimulation compared to pre-stimulation, and in the Montage 2, the maximum Hip ROM decreased in post-stimulation compared to pre-stimulation. The pain perception in the Montage 1 decreased in the post-stimulation compared to pre-stimulation. In the post-stimulation, pain perception for the Montage 1 was lower compared to Montage 2 (p = 0.005), and sham (p = 0.004). When the anodic stimulus was applied on the left DLPFC and the cathodic stimulus on the motor cortex, an increase in ROM and a reduction in the pain perception was observed. This montage may to modulate pain perception and joint flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ighor Amadeu Dias Henriques
- Physical Activity Sciences Postgraduate Program - Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO), Niterói, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Lattari
- Physical Activity Sciences Postgraduate Program - Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO), Niterói, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Torres
- Physical Activity Sciences Postgraduate Program - Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO), Niterói, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Moraes Rodrigues
- Physical Activity Sciences Postgraduate Program - Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO), Niterói, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Sérgio Machado
- Laboratory of Physical Activity Neuroscience, Physical Activity Sciences Postgraduate Program - Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO), Niterói, Brazil.
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Horiba M, Ueki Y, Nojima I, Shimizu Y, Sahashi K, Itamoto S, Suzuki A, Yamada G, Matsukawa N, Wada I. Impaired Motor Skill Acquisition Using Mirror Visual Feedback Improved by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Patients With Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:602. [PMID: 31275100 PMCID: PMC6593084 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in combination with motor training can enhance neuroplasticity and learning. It is reasonable to assume that such neuroplasticity-based interventions constitute a useful rehabilitative tool for patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Regarding motor skill training, many kinds of tasks that do not involve real motor movements have been applied to PD patients. The purpose of this study is to elucidate whether motor skill training using mirror visual feedback (MVF) is useful to patients with PD in order to improve untrained hand performance dependent on the time course of training; and whether MVF combined with anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex (M1) causes an additional effect based on increased motor cortical excitability. Eighteen right-handed patients with PD in the off-medication state and 10 age-matched healthy subjects (HS) performed four sessions of right-hand ball rotation using MVF (intervention) on two separate days, 1 week apart (day 1 and day 2). HS subjects received only sham stimulation. The intervention included four sessions of motor-skill training using MVF for 20 min comprised of four sets of training for 30 s each. PD patients were randomly divided into two intervention groups without or with anodal tDCS over the right M1 contralateral to the untrained hand. As the behavior evaluation, the number of ball rotations of the left hand was counted before (pre) and immediately after (post) intervention on both days (pre day 1, post day 1, pre day 2, and post day 2). Motor evoked potential (MEP), input-output function, and cortical silent period were recorded to evaluate the motor cortical excitatory and inhibitory system in M1 pre day 1 and post day 2. The number of ball rotations of the left hand and the facilitation of MEP by intervention were significantly impaired in patients with PD compared to HS. In contrast, if anodal tDCS was applied to right M1 of patients with PD, the number of ball rotations in accordance with I-O function at 150% intensity was significantly increased after day 1 and retained until day 2. This finding may help provide a new strategy for neurorehabilitation improving task-specific motor memory without real motor movements in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuya Horiba
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoshino Ueki
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ippei Nojima
- Department of Physical Therapy, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagano, Japan
| | - Yoko Shimizu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kento Sahashi
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shogo Itamoto
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ayuko Suzuki
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Gohei Yamada
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Matsukawa
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ikuo Wada
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
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Berra E, Bergamaschi R, De Icco R, Dagna C, Perrotta A, Rovaris M, Grasso MG, Anastasio MG, Pinardi G, Martello F, Tamburin S, Sandrini G, Tassorelli C. The Effects of Transcutaneous Spinal Direct Current Stimulation on Neuropathic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical and Neurophysiological Assessment. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 13:31. [PMID: 30809137 PMCID: PMC6379270 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Central neuropathic pain represents one of the most common symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS) and it seriously affects quality of life. Spinal mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain in MS. Converging evidence from animal models and neurophysiological and clinical studies in humans suggests a potential effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tc-DCS) on neuropathic pain. Spinal application of DCS, i.e., transcutaneous spinal DCS (ts-DCS), may modulate nociception through inhibition of spinal reflexes. Therefore, ts-DCS could represents an effective, safe and well-tolerated treatment for neuropathic pain in MS, a largely unexplored topic. This study is a pilot randomized double-blind sham-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of ts-DCS on central neuropathic pain in MS patients. Methods: Thirty-three MS patients with central neuropathic pain were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups in a double-blind sham-controlled design: anodal ts-DCS group (n = 19, 10 daily 20-min sessions, 2 mA) or sham ts-DCS group (n = 14, 10 daily 20-min sessions, 0 mA). The following clinical outcomes were evaluated before ts-DCS treatment (T0), after 10 days of treatment (T1) and 1 month after the end of treatment (T2): neuropathic pain symptoms inventory (NPSI), Ashworth Scale (AS) for spasticity and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). A subgroup of patients treated with anodal ts-DCS (n = 12) and sham ts-DCS (n = 11) also underwent a parallel neurophysiological study of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) and the NWR temporal summation threshold (TST), two objective markers of pain processing at spinal level. Results: Anodal ts-DCS group showed a significant improvement in NPSI at T1, which persisted at T2, while we did not detect any significant change in AS and FSS. Sham ts-DCS group did not show any significant change in clinical scales. We observed a non-significant trend towards an inhibition of NWR responses in the anodal ts-DCS group at T1 and T2 when compared to baseline. Conclusions: Anodal ts-DCS seems to have an early and persisting (i.e., 1 month after treatment) clinical efficacy on central neuropathic pain in MS patients, probably through modulation of spinal nociception. Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier #NCT02331654.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana Berra
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Department of Neurology, IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Bergamaschi
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Department of Neurology, IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.,Multiple Sclerosis Center, IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto De Icco
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Department of Neurology, IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Carlotta Dagna
- Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Marco Rovaris
- Neurorehabilitation Unit and Multiple Sclerosis Center, IRCCS Santa Maria Nascente, Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Grasso
- Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Rehabilitation Hospital Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giovanna Pinardi
- Neurorehabilitation Unit and Multiple Sclerosis Center, IRCCS Santa Maria Nascente, Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Martello
- Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Rehabilitation Hospital Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Tamburin
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giorgio Sandrini
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Department of Neurology, IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Cristina Tassorelli
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Department of Neurology, IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Paradoxical, causal effects of sensory gain modulation on motor inhibitory control - a tDCS, EEG-source localization study. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17486. [PMID: 30504787 PMCID: PMC6269458 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35879-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Response inhibition is a key component of executive functioning, but the role of perceptual processes has only recently been focused. Although the interrelation of incoming information and resulting behavioural (motor) effects is well-known to depend on gain control mechanisms, the causal role of sensory gain modulation for response inhibition is elusive. We investigate it using a somatosensory response inhibition (Go/Nogo) task and examine the effects of parietal (somatosensory) cathodal and sham tDCS stimulation on a behavioural and neurophysiological level. For the latter, we combine event-related potential (ERP) and source localization analyses. Behavioural results reveal that cathodal stimulation leads to superior inhibition performance as compared to sham stimulation depending on the intensity of tDCS stimulation. The neurophysiological data show that an early (perceptual) subprocess of the Nogo-N2 ERP-component is differentially modulated by the type of stimulation but not a later (response-related) Nogo-N2 subcomponent. Under cathodal stimulation, the early N2 amplitude is reduced and the right inferior frontal gyrus (BA45) is less active. Cathodal tDCS likely enhances inhibition performance via decreasing the efficiency of gain control and the impact of sensory stimuli to trigger prepotent responses. Thereby, response inhibition processes, associated with structures of the response inhibition network, become less demanded.
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30
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Malejko K, Neff D, Brown RC, Plener PL, Bonenberger M, Abler B, Grön G, Graf H. Somatosensory Stimulus Intensity Encoding in Borderline Personality Disorder. Front Psychol 2018; 9:1853. [PMID: 30327632 PMCID: PMC6174222 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is clinically characterized by emotional instability, interpersonal disturbances and dysfunctional behavior such as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). During NSSI, patients with BPD typically report analgesic or hypoalgesic phenomena, and pain perception and pain processing in BPD have been repeatedly investigated. Most of the studies so far focused on affective-motivational and cognitive-evaluative neural components of pain within categorial study designs. By contrast, rather basic somatosensory aspects such as neural intensity-encoding of somatosensory stimuli were not examined in further details. Thus, we investigated patients with BPD and healthy controls (HC) by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during an unpleasant sensory stimulation task with parametrically increasing stimulus intensities. 15 females diagnosed with BPD and 15 HCs were investigated with fMRI during four individually adjusted levels of electrical stimulus intensities. Ratings of stimulus intensity were assessed by button presses during fMRI. fMRI-data were analyzed by analyses of variances (ANOVA) at a statistical threshold of p < 0.05 FWE-corrected on cluster level. Subjective ratings of stimulus intensities were alike between BPD and HC, and intensity levels identified with equal accuracy. Significant intensity-encoding neural activations were observed within the primary and secondary somtasensory cortex, the posterior insula, the posterior midcingulate cortex (pMCC) and the supplementary motor area (SMA) in both, HC and BPD. Notably, there were no significant between-groups differences in intensity-encoding neural activations, even at lowered significance thresholds. Present results suggest a similar neural somatosensory stimulus intensity encoding in BPD as previously observed on a behavioral level. The alterations in neural affective-motivational or cognitive-evaluative components reported so far may be restricted to pain rather than unpleasant stimulus processing and were absent in our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Malejko
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dominik Neff
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rebecca C Brown
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Paul L Plener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martina Bonenberger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Birgit Abler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Georg Grön
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Heiko Graf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates spontaneous neuronal activity that can generate long-term neuroplastic changes. It has been used in numerous therapeutic trials showing significant clinical effects especially when combined with other behavioral therapies. One area of intensive tDCS research is chronic pain. Since the initial tDCS trials for chronic pain treatment using current parameters of stimulation, more than 60 clinical trials have been published testing its effects in different pain syndromes. However, as the field moves in the direction of clinical application, several aspects need to be taken into consideration regarding tDCS effectiveness and parameters of stimulation. In this article, we reviewed the evidence of tDCS effects for the treatment of chronic pain and critically analyzed the literature pertaining its safety and efficacy, and how to optimize tDCS clinical effects in a therapeutic setting. We discuss optimization of tDCS effects in 3 different domains: (i) parameters of stimulation, (ii) combination therapies, and (iii) subject selection. This article aims to provide insights for the development of future tDCS clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Bonin Pinto
- Laboratory of Neuromodulation & Center for Clinical Research Learning, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Beatriz Teixeira Costa
- Laboratory of Neuromodulation & Center for Clinical Research Learning, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dante Duarte
- Laboratory of Neuromodulation & Center for Clinical Research Learning, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Laboratory of Neuromodulation & Center for Clinical Research Learning, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Folmli B, Turman B, Johnson P, Abbott A. Dose response of somatosensory cortex repeated anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on vibrotactile detection: a randomized sham-controlled trial. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:610-616. [PMID: 29726731 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00926.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This randomized sham-controlled trial investigated anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the somatosensory cortex contralateral to hand dominance for dose-response (1 mA, 20 min × 5 days) effects on vibrotactile detection thresholds (VDT). VDT was measured before and after tDCS on days 1, 3, and 5 for low- (30 Hz) and high-frequency (200 Hz) vibrations on the dominant and nondominant hands in 29 healthy adults (mean age = 22.86 yr; 15 men, 14 women). Only the dominant-hand 200-Hz VDT displayed statistically significant medium effect size improvement for mixed-model analysis of variance time-by-group interaction for active tDCS compared with sham. Post hoc contrasts were statistically significant for dominant-hand 200-Hz VDT on day 5 after tDCS compared with day 1 before tDCS, day 1 after tDCS, and day 3 before tDCS. There was a linear dose-response improvement with dominant-hand 200-Hz VDT mean difference decreasing from day 1 before tDCS peaking at -15.5% (SD = 34.9%) on day 5 after tDCS. Both groups showed learning effect trends over time for all VDT test conditions, but only the nondominant-hand 30-Hz VDT was statistically significant ( P = 0.03), although post hoc contrasts were nonsignificant after Šidák adjustment. No adverse effects for tDCS were reported. In conclusion, anodal tDCS at 1 mA, 20 min × 5 days on the dominant sensory cortex can modulate a linear improvement of dominant-hand high-frequency VDT but not low-frequency or nondominant-hand VDT. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Repeated weak anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (1 mA, 20 min) on the dominant sensory cortex provides linear improvement in dominant-hand high-frequency vibration detection thresholds. No effects were observed for low-frequency or nondominant-hand vibration detection thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brookes Folmli
- Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University , Gold Coast, Queensland , Australia
| | - Bulent Turman
- Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University , Gold Coast, Queensland , Australia
| | - Peter Johnson
- Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University , Gold Coast, Queensland , Australia
| | - Allan Abbott
- Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University , Gold Coast, Queensland , Australia.,Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden
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Fuentes MA, Borrego A, Latorre J, Colomer C, Alcañiz M, Sánchez-Ledesma MJ, Noé E, Llorens R. Combined Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Virtual Reality-Based Paradigm for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Individuals with Restricted Movements. A Feasibility Study with a Chronic Stroke Survivor with Severe Hemiparesis. J Med Syst 2018; 42:87. [PMID: 29611142 DOI: 10.1007/s10916-018-0949-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Impairments of the upper limb function are a major cause of disability and rehabilitation. Most of the available therapeutic options are based on active exercises and on motor and attentional inclusion of the affected arm in task oriented movements. However, active movements may not be possible after severe impairment of the upper limbs. Different techniques, such as mirror therapy, motor imagery, and non-invasive brain stimulation have been shown to elicit cortical activity in absence of movements, which could be used to preserve the available neural circuits and promote motor learning. We present a virtual reality-based paradigm for upper limb rehabilitation that allows for interaction of individuals with restricted movements from active responses triggered when they attempt to perform a movement. The experimental system also provides multisensory stimulation in the visual, auditory, and tactile channels, and transcranial direct current stimulation coherent to the observed movements. A feasibility study with a chronic stroke survivor with severe hemiparesis who seemed to reach a rehabilitation plateau after two years of its inclusion in a physical therapy program showed clinically meaningful improvement of the upper limb function after the experimental intervention and maintenance of gains in both the body function and activity. The experimental intervention also was reported to be usable and motivating. Although very preliminary, these results could highlight the potential of this intervention to promote functional recovery in severe impairments of the upper limb.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Antonia Fuentes
- Servicio de Neurorrehabilitación y Daño Cerebral de los Hospitales VITHAS-NISA, Fundación Hospitales NISA, Río Tajo 1, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Adrián Borrego
- Neurorehabilitation and Brain Research Group, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46011, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jorge Latorre
- Neurorehabilitation and Brain Research Group, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46011, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carolina Colomer
- Servicio de Neurorrehabilitación y Daño Cerebral de los Hospitales VITHAS-NISA, Fundación Hospitales NISA, Río Tajo 1, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mariano Alcañiz
- Neurorehabilitation and Brain Research Group, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46011, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Enrique Noé
- Servicio de Neurorrehabilitación y Daño Cerebral de los Hospitales VITHAS-NISA, Fundación Hospitales NISA, Río Tajo 1, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Roberto Llorens
- Servicio de Neurorrehabilitación y Daño Cerebral de los Hospitales VITHAS-NISA, Fundación Hospitales NISA, Río Tajo 1, 46022, Valencia, Spain.,Neurorehabilitation and Brain Research Group, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46011, Valencia, Spain
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De Keyser R, van den Broeke EN, Courtin A, Dufour A, Mouraux A. Event-related brain potentials elicited by high-speed cooling of the skin: A robust and non-painful method to assess the spinothalamic system in humans. Clin Neurophysiol 2018; 129:1011-1019. [PMID: 29567583 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2018.02.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether cool-evoked potentials (CEP) elicited by brisk innocuous cooling of the skin could serve as an alternative to laser-evoked potentials (LEP), currently considered as the best available neurophysiological tool to assess the spinothalamic tract and diagnose neuropathic pain. METHODS A novel device made of micro-Peltier elements and able to cool the skin at -300 °C/s was used to record CEPs elicited by stimulation of the hand dorsum in 40 healthy individuals, characterize the elicited responses, and assess their signal-to-noise ratio. Various stimulation surfaces (40 mm2 and 120 mm2), cooling ramps (-200 °C/s and -133 °C/s) and temperature steps (20 °C, 15 °C, 10 °C, 5 °C) were tested to identify optimal stimulation conditions. RESULTS CEPs were observed in all conditions and subjects, characterized by a biphasic negative-positive complex maximal at the vertex (Cz), peaking 190-400 ms after stimulus onset, preceded by a negative wave over central-parietal areas contralateral to the stimulated hand. Their magnitude was modulated by stimulation surface, cooling ramp and temperature step. CONCLUSION Rapid innocuous skin cooling elicits robust CEPs at latencies compatible with the conduction velocity of Aδ-fibers. SIGNIFICANCE CEPs can be a complementary tool to the recording of LEPS for assessing the function of small-diameter Aδ-fibers and the spinothalamic tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxane De Keyser
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Arthur Courtin
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - André Dufour
- Centre d'investigations neurocognitives et neurophysiologiques (CI2N), CNRS, University of Strasbourg, France
| | - André Mouraux
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.
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Thermosensory Perceptual Learning Is Associated with Structural Brain Changes in Parietal-Opercular (SII) Cortex. J Neurosci 2017; 37:9380-9388. [PMID: 28847806 PMCID: PMC5618259 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1316-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The location of a sensory cortex for temperature perception remains a topic of substantial debate. Both the parietal–opercular (SII) and posterior insula have been consistently implicated in thermosensory processing, but neither region has yet been identified as the locus of fine temperature discrimination. Using a perceptual learning paradigm in male and female humans, we show improvement in discrimination accuracy for subdegree changes in both warmth and cool detection over 5 d of repetitive training. We found that increases in discriminative accuracy were specific to the temperature (cold or warm) being trained. Using structural imaging to look for plastic changes associated with perceptual learning, we identified symmetrical increases in gray matter volume in the SII cortex. Furthermore, we observed distinct, adjacent regions for cold and warm discrimination, with cold discrimination having a more anterior locus than warm. The results suggest that thermosensory discrimination is supported by functionally and anatomically distinct temperature-specific modules in the SII cortex. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We provide behavioral and neuroanatomical evidence that perceptual learning is possible within the temperature system. We show that structural plasticity localizes to parietal–opercular (SII), and not posterior insula, providing the best evidence to date resolving a longstanding debate about the location of putative “temperature cortex.” Furthermore, we show that cold and warm pathways are behaviorally and anatomically dissociable, suggesting that the temperature system has distinct temperature-dependent processing modules.
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Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on temperature and pain perception. Sci Rep 2017; 7:2946. [PMID: 28592857 PMCID: PMC5462761 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03173-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation modifies cortical excitability and in consequence some cerebral functions. In the present study we aimed to elucidate whether tDCS could affect temperature and pain perceptions in healthy subjects testing different stimulation parameters. A total of 20 healthy subjects were studied by means of quantitative sensory testing. Two different experiments were performed. First, we studied the effects of 15 minutes 2 mA anodal transcranial direct current stimulation applied over left M1 and parietal cortex in two separated sessions. Then, we tested the effects of 5 minutes tDCS over M1 by means of a sham controlled design to optimize the possibility to study minimal effects of tDCS using different polarities (cathodal and anodal) and intensities (1 and 2 mA). 2 mA anodal tDCS, when applied for both 15 and 5 minutes over the motor cortex, increased cold perception threshold. Conversely, motor cortex cathodal tDCS modulated cold perception threshold only when 1 mA intensity was used. M1-tDCS can modify the temperature perception; these effects are polarity and intensity dependent. As stimulation intensity seems critical to determine the effects, we suggest that for clinical application strong anodal tDCS (>1 mA) or weak cathodal tDCS (<2 mA) should be used for pain control.
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Lenoir C, Huang G, Vandermeeren Y, Hatem SM, Mouraux A. Human primary somatosensory cortex is differentially involved in vibrotaction and nociception. J Neurophysiol 2017; 118:317-330. [PMID: 28446584 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00615.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) in vibrotaction is well established. In contrast, its involvement in nociception is still debated. Here we test whether S1 is similarly involved in the processing of nonnociceptive and nociceptive somatosensory input in humans by comparing the aftereffects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) of S1 on the event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by nonnociceptive and nociceptive somatosensory stimuli delivered to the ipsilateral and contralateral hands. Cathodal HD-tDCS significantly affected the responses to nonnociceptive somatosensory stimuli delivered to the contralateral hand: both early-latency ERPs from within S1 (N20 wave elicited by transcutaneous electrical stimulation of median nerve) and late-latency ERPs elicited outside S1 (N120 wave elicited by short-lasting mechanical vibrations delivered to index fingertip, thought to originate from bilateral operculo-insular and cingulate cortices). These results support the notion that S1 constitutes an obligatory relay for the cortical processing of nonnociceptive tactile input originating from the contralateral hemibody. Contrasting with this asymmetric effect of HD-tDCS on the responses to nonnociceptive somatosensory input, HD-tDCS over the sensorimotor cortex led to a bilateral and symmetric reduction of the magnitude of the N240 wave of nociceptive laser-evoked potentials elicited by stimulation of the hand dorsum. Taken together, our results demonstrate in humans a differential involvement of S1 in vibrotaction and nociception.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Whereas the role of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) in vibrotaction is well established, its involvement in nociception remains strongly debated. By assessing, in healthy volunteers, the effect of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation over S1, we demonstrate a differential involvement of S1 in vibrotaction and nociception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Lenoir
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gan Huang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yves Vandermeeren
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,NeuroModulation Unit, Neurology Department, CHU UCL Namur (Godinne), Université catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium.,Louvain Bionics, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; and
| | - Samar Marie Hatem
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Brugmann University Hospital, and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - André Mouraux
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium;
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Heinrichs-Graham E, McDermott TJ, Mills MS, Coolidge NM, Wilson TW. Transcranial direct-current stimulation modulates offline visual oscillatory activity: A magnetoencephalography study. Cortex 2016; 88:19-31. [PMID: 28042984 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2016.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive neuromodulatory method that involves delivering low amplitude, direct current to specific regions of the brain. While a wealth of literature shows changes in behavior and cognition following tDCS administration, the underlying neuronal mechanisms remain largely unknown. Neuroimaging studies have generally used fMRI and shown only limited consensus to date, while the few electrophysiological studies have reported mostly null or counterintuitive findings. The goal of the current investigation was to quantify tDCS-induced alterations in the oscillatory dynamics of visual processing. To this end, we performed either active or sham tDCS using an occipital-frontal electrode configuration, and then recorded magnetoencephalography (MEG) offline during a visual entrainment task. Significant oscillatory responses were imaged in the time-frequency domain using beamforming, and the effects of tDCS on absolute and relative power were assessed. The results indicated significantly increased basal alpha levels in the occipital cortex following anodal tDCS, as well as reduced occipital synchronization at the second harmonic of the stimulus-flicker frequency relative to sham stimulation. In addition, we found reduced power in brain regions near the cathode (e.g., right inferior frontal gyrus [IFG]) following active tDCS, which was absent in the sham group. Taken together, these results suggest that anodal tDCS of the occipital cortices differentially modulates spontaneous and induced activity, and may interfere with the entrainment of neuronal populations by a visual-flicker stimulus. These findings also demonstrate the importance of electrode configuration on whole-brain dynamics, and highlight the deceptively complicated nature of tDCS in the context of neurophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA; Center for Magnetoencephalography, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | | | | | - Tony W Wilson
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA; Center for Magnetoencephalography, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA.
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40
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Reduction of chronic abdominal pain in patients with inflammatory bowel disease through transcranial direct current stimulation: a randomized controlled trial. Pain 2016; 157:429-437. [PMID: 26469395 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequently associated with chronic abdominal pain (CAP). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proven to reduce chronic pain. This study aimed to investigate the effects of tDCS in patients with CAP due to IBD. This randomized, sham-controlled, double blind, parallel-designed study included 20 patients with either Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis with CAP (≥3/10 on the visual analog scale (VAS) in 3/6 months). Anodal or sham tDCS was applied over the primary motor cortex for 5 consecutive days (2 mA, 20 minutes). Assessments included VAS, pressure pain threshold, inflammatory markers, and questionnaires on quality of life, functional and disease specific symptoms (Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Severity Scoring System [IBS-SSS]), disease activity, and pain catastrophizing. Follow-up data were collected 1 week after the end of the stimulation. Statistical analyses were performed using analysis of variance and t tests. There was a significant reduction of abdominal pain in the anodal tDCS group compared with sham tDCS. This effect was evident in changes in VAS and pressure pain threshold on the left and right sides of the abdomen. In addition, 1 week after stimulation, pain reduction remained significantly decreased in the right side of the abdomen. There was also a significant reduction in scores on pain catastrophizing and on IBS-SSS when comparing both groups. Inflammatory markers and disease activity did not differ significantly between groups throughout the experiment. Transcranial direct current stimulation proved to be an effective and clinically relevant therapeutic strategy for CAP in IBD. The analgesic effects observed are unrelated to inflammation and disease activity, which emphasizes central pain mechanisms in CAP.
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Rehmann R, Sczesny-Kaiser M, Lenz M, Gucia T, Schliesing A, Schwenkreis P, Tegenthoff M, Höffken O. Polarity-Specific Cortical Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Primary Somatosensory Cortex of Healthy Humans. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:208. [PMID: 27242473 PMCID: PMC4860403 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive stimulation method that has been shown to modulate the excitability of the motor and visual cortices in human subjects in a polarity dependent manner in previous studies. The aim of our study was to investigate whether anodal and cathodal tDCS can also be used to modulate the excitability of the human primary somatosensory cortex (S1). We measured paired-pulse suppression (PPS) of somatosensory evoked potentials in 36 right-handed volunteers before and after anodal, cathodal, or sham stimulation over the right non-dominant S1. Paired-pulse stimulation of the median nerve was performed at the dominant and non-dominant hand. After anodal tDCS, PPS was reduced in the ipsilateral S1 compared to sham stimulation, indicating an excitatory effect of anodal tDCS. In contrast, PPS in the stimulated left hemisphere was increased after cathodal tDCS, indicating an inhibitory effect of cathodal tDCS. Sham stimulation induced no pre-post differences. Thus, tDCS can be used to modulate the excitability of S1 in polarity-dependent manner, which can be assessed by PPS. An interesting topic for further studies could be the investigation of direct correlations between sensory changes and excitability changes induced by tDCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Rehmann
- Department of Neurology, BG-Universitaetsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Melanie Lenz
- Department of Neurology, BG-Universitaetsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum Bochum, Germany
| | - Tomasz Gucia
- Department of Neurology, BG-Universitaetsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum Bochum, Germany
| | - Annika Schliesing
- Department of Neurology, BG-Universitaetsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum Bochum, Germany
| | - Peter Schwenkreis
- Department of Neurology, BG-Universitaetsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum Bochum, Germany
| | - Martin Tegenthoff
- Department of Neurology, BG-Universitaetsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum Bochum, Germany
| | - Oliver Höffken
- Department of Neurology, BG-Universitaetsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum Bochum, Germany
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Effects of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation to primary somatosensory cortex on short-latency afferent inhibition. Neuroreport 2016; 26:634-7. [PMID: 26103117 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000000402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) on short-interval afferent inhibition (SAI). Thirteen healthy individuals participated in this study. Cathodal tDCS was applied for 15 min at 1 mA over the left S1. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured from the right first dorsal interosseous muscle in response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the left motor cortex before tDCS (pre), immediately after tDCS (immediately), and 15 min after tDCS (post-15 min). SAI was evaluated by measuring MEPs in response to TMS pulses applied 40 ms after peripheral electrical stimulation of the index finger. For each measurement period (pre, immediately, and post-15 min), MEP amplitude was significantly smaller when TMS followed index finger stimulation (SAI condition) than when TMS was delivered alone (single TMS) (P<0.01), indicating expression of SAI. The MEP ratio (MEP of SAI/MEP of single TMS) at post-15 min was significantly larger than that of pre (P<0.05), indicating suppression of SAI. However, no significant difference was observed between pre and immediately, and immediately and post-15 min. These results suggest that cathodal tDCS applied over the S1 causes a decrease in S1 excitability following peripheral electrical stimulation and cathodal tDCS applied over the S1 decreased the inhibitory effects of SAI.
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43
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Transcranial direct current stimulation as a tool in the study of sensory-perceptual processing. Atten Percept Psychophys 2016; 77:1813-40. [PMID: 26139152 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-015-0932-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique with increasing popularity in the fields of basic research and rehabilitation. It is an affordable and safe procedure that is beginning to be used in the clinic, and is a tool with potential to contribute to the understanding of neural mechanisms in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and medical research. This review presents examples of investigations in the fields of perception, basic sensory processes, and sensory rehabilitation that employed tDCS. We highlight some of the most relevant efforts in this area and discuss possible limitations and gaps in contemporary tDCS research. Topics include the five senses, pain, and multimodal integration. The present work aims to present the state of the art of this field of research and to inspire future investigations of perception using tDCS.
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Labbé S, Meftah EM, Chapman CE. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation of primary somatosensory cortex on vibrotactile detection and discrimination. J Neurophysiol 2016; 115:1978-87. [PMID: 26864757 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00506.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) of primary somatosensory cortex (S1) has been shown to enhance tactile spatial acuity, but there is little information as to the underlying neuronal mechanisms. We examined vibrotactile perception on the distal phalanx of the middle finger before, during, and after contralateral S1 tDCS [a-, cathodal (c)-, and sham (s)-tDCS]. The experiments tested our shift-gain hypothesis, which predicted that a-tDCS would decrease vibrotactile detection and discrimination thresholds (leftward shift of the stimulus-response function with increased gain/slope) relative to s-tDCS, whereas c-tDCS would have the opposite effects (relative to s-tDCS). The results showed that weak a-tDCS (1 mA, 20 min) led to a reduction in both vibrotactile detection and discrimination thresholds to 73-76% of baseline during the application of the stimulation in subjects categorized as responders. These effects persisted after the end of a-tDCS but were absent 30 min later. Most, but not all, subjects showed a decrease in threshold (8/12 for detection; 9/12 for discrimination). Intersubject variability was explained by a ceiling effect in the discrimination task. c-tDCS had no significant effect on either detection or discrimination threshold. Taken together, our results supported our shift-gain hypothesis for a-tDCS but not c-tDCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Labbé
- Département de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; and
| | - El-Mehdi Meftah
- Département de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; and
| | - C Elaine Chapman
- Département de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; and Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
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Nakagawa K, Mochizuki H, Koyama S, Tanaka S, Sadato N, Kakigi R. A transcranial direct current stimulation over the sensorimotor cortex modulates the itch sensation induced by histamine. Clin Neurophysiol 2016; 127:827-832. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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46
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Houser R, Thoma S, Fonseca D, O’Conner E, Stanton M. Enhancing statistical calculation with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the left intra-parietal sulcus (IPS). Trends Neurosci Educ 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tine.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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47
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Aust S, Palm U, Padberg F, Bajbouj M. [Transcranial direct current stimulation for depressive disorders]. DER NERVENARZT 2015; 86:1492-9. [PMID: 26573660 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-015-4322-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorders are one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide but approximately 20-30 % of patients do not respond to standard guideline conform treatment. Recent neuroimaging studies in depressive patients revealed altered activation patterns in prefrontal brain areas and that successful cognitive behavioral therapy and psychopharmacological interventions are associated with a reversal of these neural alterations. Therefore, a direct modulation of prefrontal brain activation by non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) seems to be a promising and innovative approach for the treatment of depressive disorders. In addition, recent neuropsychological findings indicated an augmentation of positive tDCS effects by simultaneous external activation of the stimulated brain area, for example by cognitive training tasks. Based on these findings, the possibility to augment cognitive-emotional learning processes during cognitive behavioral therapy by simultaneous tDCS to increase antidepressive therapeutic effects is discussed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Aust
- Center for Affective Sciences, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Deutschland.
| | - U Palm
- Sektion für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie und Munich Center for Brain Stimulation, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, LMU Klinikum der Universität München, München, Deutschland
| | - F Padberg
- Sektion für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie und Munich Center for Brain Stimulation, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, LMU Klinikum der Universität München, München, Deutschland
| | - M Bajbouj
- Center for Affective Sciences, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Deutschland
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Hanley CJ, Tommerdahl M, McGonigle DJ. Stimulating somatosensory psychophysics: a double-blind, sham-controlled study of the neurobiological mechanisms of tDCS. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:400. [PMID: 26500499 PMCID: PMC4595660 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuromodulation technique transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is thought to produce its effects on behavior by altering cortical excitability. Although the mechanisms underlying the observed effects are thought to rely on the balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, the physiological principles of the technique are not completely understood. In this study, we examine the influence of tDCS on vibrotactile adaptation, using a simple amplitude discrimination paradigm that has been shown to exhibit modifications in performance due to changes in inhibitory neurotransmission. Double-blind tDCS (Anodal/Sham) of 1 mA was delivered for 600 s to electrodes positioned in a somatosensory/contralateral orbit montage. Stimulation was applied as part of a pre/post design, between blocks of the behavioral tasks. In accordance with previous work, results obtained before the application of tDCS indicated that amplitude discrimination thresholds were significantly worsened during adaptation trials, compared to those achieved at baseline. However, tDCS failed to modify amplitude discrimination performance. Using a Bayesian approach, this finding was revealed to constitute substantial evidence for the null hypothesis. The failure of DC stimulation to alter vibrotactile adaptation thresholds is discussed in the context of several factors that may have confounded the induction of changes in cortical plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J Hanley
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University Cardiff, UK ; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University Cardiff, UK
| | - Mark Tommerdahl
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - David J McGonigle
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University Cardiff, UK ; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University Cardiff, UK
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Vaseghi B, Zoghi M, Jaberzadeh S. Differential effects of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation of prefrontal, motor and somatosensory cortices on cortical excitability and pain perception - a double-blind randomised sham-controlled study. Eur J Neurosci 2015; 42:2426-37. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- B. Vaseghi
- Department of Physiotherapy; School of Primary Health Care; Faculty of Medicine; Nursing and Health Sciences; Monash University; Frankston Vic. Australia
| | - M. Zoghi
- Department of Medicine; Royal Melbourne Hospital; The University of Melbourne; Parkville Vic. Australia
| | - S. Jaberzadeh
- Department of Physiotherapy; School of Primary Health Care; Faculty of Medicine; Nursing and Health Sciences; Monash University; Frankston Vic. Australia
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Shin YI, Foerster Á, Nitsche MA. Reprint of: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) – Application in neuropsychology. Neuropsychologia 2015; 74:74-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Revised: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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