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Razza LB, De Smet S, Van Hoornweder S, De Witte S, Luethi MS, Baeken C, Brunoni AR, Vanderhasselt MA. Investigating the variability of prefrontal tDCS effects on working memory: An individual E-field distribution study. Cortex 2024; 172:38-48. [PMID: 38157837 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the prefrontal cortex has the potential to enhance working memory by means of a weak direct current applied to the scalp. However, its effects are highly variable and possibly dependent on individual variability in cortical architecture and head anatomy. Unveiling sources of heterogeneity might improve fundamental and clinical application of tDCS in the field. Therefore, we investigated sources of tDCS variability of prefrontal 1.5 mA tDCS, 3 mA tDCS and sham tDCS in 40 participants (67.5% women, mean age 24.7 years) by associating simulated electric field (E-field) magnitude in brain regions of interest (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and subgenual ACC) and working memory performance. Emotional and non-emotional 3-back paradigms were used. In the tDCS protocol analysis, effects were only significant for the 3 mA group, and only for the emotional tasks. In the individual E-field magnitude analysis, faster responses in non-emotional, but not in the emotional task, were associated with stronger E-fields in all brain regions of interest. Concluding, individual E-field distribution might explain part of the variability of prefrontal tDCS effects on working memory performance and in clinical samples. Our results suggest that tDCS effects might be more consistent or improved by applying personalizing current intensity, although this hypothesis should be confirmed by further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lais B Razza
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Stefanie De Smet
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sybren Van Hoornweder
- REVAL-Rehabilitation Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Hasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Sara De Witte
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Neurology and Bru-BRAIN, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Neuroprotection and Neuromodulation Research Group (NEUR), Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Matthias S Luethi
- Serviço Interdisciplinar de Neuromodulação, Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM-27), Departamento Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium; Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Andre R Brunoni
- Serviço Interdisciplinar de Neuromodulação, Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM-27), Departamento Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo & Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Zanao TA, Luethi MS, Goerigk S, Suen P, Diaz AP, Soares JC, Brunoni AR. White matter predicts tDCS antidepressant effects in a sham-controlled clinical trial study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:1421-1431. [PMID: 36336757 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-022-01504-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used as treatment for depression, but its effects are heterogeneous. We investigated, in a subsample of the clinical trial Escitalopram versus Electrical Direct Current Therapy for Depression Study (ELECTTDCS), whether white matter areas associated with depression disorder were associated with tDCS response. Baseline diffusion tensor imaging data were analyzed from 49 patients (34 females, mean age 41.9) randomized to escitalopram 20 mg/day, tDCS (2 mA, 30 min, 22 sessions), or placebo. Antidepressant outcomes were assessed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS) after 10-week treatment. We used whole-brain tractography for extracting white matter measures for anterior corpus callosum, and bilaterally for cingulum bundle, striato-frontal, inferior occipito-frontal fasciculus and uncinate. For the rostral body, tDCS group showed higher MD associated with antidepressant effects (estimate = -5.13 ± 1.64, p = 0.002), and tDCS significantly differed from the placebo and the escitalopram group. The left striato-frontal tract showed higher FA associated with antidepressant effects (estimate = -2.14 ± 0.72, p = 0.003), and tDCS differed only from the placebo group. For the right uncinate, the tDCS group lower AD values were associated with higher HDRS decrease (estimate = -1.45 ± 0.67, p = 0.031). Abnormalities in white matter MDD-related areas are associated with tDCS antidepressant effects. Suggested better white matter microstructure of the left prefrontal cortex was associated with tDCS antidepressant effects. Future studies should investigate whether these findings are driven by electric field diffusion and density in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamires A Zanao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matthias S Luethi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Stephan Goerigk
- Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Laboratory of Neurosciences LIM-27), São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Psychological Methodology and Assessment, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Paulo Suen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre P Diaz
- Hochschule Fresenius, University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Jair C Soares
- Hochschule Fresenius, University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Andre R Brunoni
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Hospital Universitário, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da USP, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Xiong S, Li W, Zhou Y, Ren H, Lin G, Zhang S, Xiang X. Vortioxetine Modulates the Regional Signal in First-Episode Drug-Free Major Depressive Disorder at Rest. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:950885. [PMID: 35845440 PMCID: PMC9277001 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.950885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies on brain functional alterations associated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder (MDD) have produced conflicting results because they involved short treatment periods and a variety of compounds. METHODS Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained from 25 first-episode drug-free patients with MDD and 25 healthy controls. The patients, who were treated with vortioxetine for 8 weeks, were scanned at two-time points (baseline and week 8 of treatment). The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in the imaging data was used to analyze local brain signal alterations associated with antidepressant treatment. RESULTS Compared with the controls, the patients at baseline showed decreased ALFF values in the right inferior temporal gyrus and increased ALFF values in the left inferior cerebellum, right cingulate gyrus and postcentral gyrus. After 8 weeks of vortioxetine treatment, patients showed increased ALFF values in the bilateral cingulate gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, medial superior frontal gyrus, and inferior cerebellum. CONCLUSION This study provided evidence that vortioxetine modulates brain signals in MDD sufferers. These findings contribute to the understanding of how antidepressants effect brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihong Xiong
- Department of Nephrology, Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wuhan Asia General Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongwei Ren
- Department of Medical Imaging, Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | | | - Sheng Zhang
- Liyuan Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi Xiang
- Department of Spine and Orthopedics, Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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