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Guidali G, Zazio A, Lucarelli D, Marcantoni E, Stango A, Barchiesi G, Bortoletto M. Effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) current direction and pulse waveform on cortico-cortical connectivity: A registered report TMS-EEG study. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:3785-3809. [PMID: 37649453 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16127] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-evoked potentials (TEPs) are a promising proxy for measuring effective connectivity, that is, the directed transmission of physiological signals along cortico-cortical tracts, and for developing connectivity-based biomarkers. A crucial point is how stimulation parameters may affect TEPs, as they may contribute to the general variability of findings across studies. Here, we manipulated two TMS parameters (i.e. current direction and pulse waveform) while measuring (a) an early TEP component reflecting contralateral inhibition of motor areas, namely, M1-P15, as an operative model of interhemispheric cortico-cortical connectivity, and (b) motor-evoked potentials (MEP) for the corticospinal pathway. Our results showed that these two TMS parameters are crucial to evoke the M1-P15, influencing its amplitude, latency, and replicability. Specifically, (a) M1-P15 amplitude was strongly affected by current direction in monophasic stimulation; (b) M1-P15 latency was significantly modulated by current direction for monophasic and biphasic pulses. The replicability of M1-P15 was substantial for the same stimulation condition. At the same time, it was poor when stimulation parameters were changed, suggesting that these factors must be controlled to obtain stable single-subject measures. Finally, MEP latency was modulated by current direction, whereas non-statistically significant changes were evident for amplitude. Overall, our study highlights the importance of TMS parameters for early TEP responses recording and suggests controlling their impact in developing connectivity biomarkers from TEPs. Moreover, these results point out that the excitability of the corticospinal tract, which is commonly used as a reference to set TMS intensity, may not correspond to the excitability of cortico-cortical pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Guidali
- Neurophysiology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Agnese Zazio
- Neurophysiology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Delia Lucarelli
- Neurophysiology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Marcantoni
- Neurophysiology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonietta Stango
- Neurophysiology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Guido Barchiesi
- Department of Philosophy, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Bortoletto
- Neurophysiology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
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2
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Lanzone J. High-frequency oscillation-calibrated short-latency afferent inhibition: A novel TMS protocol. Clin Neurophysiol 2022; 144:119-120. [PMID: 36244913 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J Lanzone
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Unit of Milan Institute, Italy.
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3
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Zhu HQ, Luo J, Wang XQ, Zhang XA. Non-invasive brain stimulation for osteoarthritis. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:987732. [PMID: 36247995 PMCID: PMC9557732 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.987732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease, the prevalence of OA is increasing, and the elderly are the most common in patients with OA. OA has a severe impact on the daily life of patients, this increases the demand for treatment of OA. In recent years, the application of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has attracted extensive attention. It has been confirmed that NIBS plays an important role in regulating cortical excitability and oscillatory rhythm in specific brain regions. In this review, we summarized the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of different NIBS techniques in OA, clarified the potential of NIBS as a treatment choice for OA, and provided prospects for further research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Qi Zhu
- College of Kinesiology, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Xi’an University of Sport, Xi’an, China
| | - Xue-Qiang Wang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Xue-Qiang Wang,
| | - Xin-An Zhang
- College of Kinesiology, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Xin-An Zhang,
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4
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Campbell BA, Favi Bocca L, Escobar Sanabria D, Almeida J, Rammo R, Nagel SJ, Machado AG, Baker KB. The impact of pulse timing on cortical and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation evoked potentials. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:1009223. [PMID: 36204716 PMCID: PMC9532054 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.1009223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of pulse timing is an important factor in our understanding of how to effectively modulate the basal ganglia thalamocortical (BGTC) circuit. Single pulse low-frequency DBS-evoked potentials generated through electrical stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) provide insight into circuit activation, but how the long-latency components change as a function of pulse timing is not well-understood. We investigated how timing between stimulation pulses delivered in the STN region influence the neural activity in the STN and cortex. DBS leads implanted in the STN of five patients with Parkinson's disease were temporarily externalized, allowing for the delivery of paired pulses with inter-pulse intervals (IPIs) ranging from 0.2 to 10 ms. Neural activation was measured through local field potential (LFP) recordings from the DBS lead and scalp EEG. DBS-evoked potentials were computed using contacts positioned in dorsolateral STN as determined through co-registered post-operative imaging. We quantified the degree to which distinct IPIs influenced the amplitude of evoked responses across frequencies and time using the wavelet transform and power spectral density curves. The beta frequency content of the DBS evoked responses in the STN and scalp EEG increased as a function of pulse-interval timing. Pulse intervals <1.0 ms apart were associated with minimal to no change in the evoked response. IPIs from 1.5 to 3.0 ms yielded a significant increase in the evoked response, while those >4 ms produced modest, but non-significant growth. Beta frequency activity in the scalp EEG and STN LFP response was maximal when IPIs were between 1.5 and 4.0 ms. These results demonstrate that long-latency components of DBS-evoked responses are pre-dominantly in the beta frequency range and that pulse interval timing impacts the level of BGTC circuit activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett A. Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Leonardo Favi Bocca
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - David Escobar Sanabria
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Julio Almeida
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Richard Rammo
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Sean J. Nagel
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Andre G. Machado
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Kenneth B. Baker
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Kenneth B. Baker
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5
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Perellón-Alfonso R, Redondo-Camós M, Abellaneda-Pérez K, Cattaneo G, Delgado-Gallén S, España-Irla G, Solana Sánchez J, Tormos JM, Pascual-Leone A, Bartrés-Faz D. Prefrontal reactivity to TMS perturbation as a toy model of mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10208. [PMID: 35991299 PMCID: PMC9383955 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10208] [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: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychosocial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic led many individuals to suffer adverse mental health consequences, however, others show no negative effects. We hypothesized that the electroencephalographic (EEG) response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could serve as a toy-model of an individual's capacity to resist psychological stress, in this case linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data from 74 participants who underwent mental health monitoring and concurrent electroencephalography with transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) and left inferior parietal lobule (L-IPL). Within the following 19 months, mental health was reassessed at three timepoints during lock-down confinement and different phases of de-escalation in Spain. Compared with participants who remained stable, those who experienced increased mental distress showed, months earlier, significantly larger late EEG responses locally after L-DLPFC stimulation (but not globally nor after L-IPL stimulation). This response, together with years of formal education, was significantly predictive of mental health status during the pandemic. These findings reveal that the effect of TMS perturbation offers a predictive toy model of psychosocial stress response, as exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Perellón-Alfonso
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedical Research August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Redondo-Camós
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la UAB, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kilian Abellaneda-Pérez
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedical Research August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la UAB, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gabriele Cattaneo
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la UAB, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Selma Delgado-Gallén
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la UAB, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Goretti España-Irla
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la UAB, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Solana Sánchez
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la UAB, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José M Tormos
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la UAB, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la UAB, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health, Hebrew Senior Life, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Bartrés-Faz
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedical Research August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la UAB, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
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6
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Identifying novel biomarkers with TMS-EEG - Methodological possibilities and challenges. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 377:109631. [PMID: 35623474 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Biomarkers are essential for understanding the underlying pathologies in brain disorders and for developing effective treatments. Combined transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) is an emerging neurophysiological tool that can be used for biomarker development. This method can identify biomarkers associated with the function and dynamics of the inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter systems and effective connectivity between brain areas. In this review, we outline the current state of the TMS-EEG biomarker field by summarizing the existing protocols and the possibilities and challenges associated with this methodology.
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7
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Uzair M, Abualait T, Arshad M, Yoo WK, Mir A, Bunyan RF, Bashir S. Transcranial magnetic stimulation in animal models of neurodegeneration. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:251-265. [PMID: 34269184 PMCID: PMC8464007 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.317962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain stimulation techniques offer powerful means of modulating the physiology of specific neural structures. In recent years, non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation, have emerged as therapeutic tools for neurology and neuroscience. However, the possible repercussions of these techniques remain unclear, and there are few reports on the incisive recovery mechanisms through brain stimulation. Although several studies have recommended the use of non-invasive brain stimulation in clinical neuroscience, with a special emphasis on TMS, the suggested mechanisms of action have not been confirmed directly at the neural level. Insights into the neural mechanisms of non-invasive brain stimulation would unveil the strategies necessary to enhance the safety and efficacy of this progressive approach. Therefore, animal studies investigating the mechanisms of TMS-induced recovery at the neural level are crucial for the elaboration of non-invasive brain stimulation. Translational research done using animal models has several advantages and is able to investigate knowledge gaps by directly targeting neuronal levels. In this review, we have discussed the role of TMS in different animal models, the impact of animal studies on various disease states, and the findings regarding brain function of animal models after TMS in pharmacology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Uzair
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Basic & Applied Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Turki Abualait
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Arshad
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Basic & Applied Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Woo-Kyoung Yoo
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, South Korea
- Hallym Institute for Translational Genomics & Bioinformatics, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, South Korea
| | - Ali Mir
- Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem Fahd Bunyan
- Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahid Bashir
- Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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8
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Bridging the gap: TMS-EEG from Lab to Clinic. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 369:109482. [PMID: 35041855 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) has reached technological maturity and has been an object of significant scientific interest for over two decades. Ιn parallel, accumulating evidence highlights the potential of TMS-EEG as a useful tool in the field of clinical neurosciences. Nevertheless, its clinical utility has not yet been established, partly because technical and methodological limitations have created a gap between an evolving scientific tool and standard clinical practice. Here we review some of the identified gaps that still prevent TMS-EEG moving from science laboratories to clinical practice. The principal and partly overlapping gaps include: 1) complex and laborious application, 2) difficulty in obtaining high-quality signals, 3) suboptimal accuracy and reliability, and 4) insufficient understanding of the neurobiological substrate of the responses. All these four aspects need to be satisfactorily addressed for the method to become clinically applicable and enter the diagnostic and therapeutic arena. In the current review, we identify steps that might be taken to address these issues and discuss promising recent studies providing tools to aid bridging the gaps.
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9
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Perellón-Alfonso R, Redondo-Camós M, Abellaneda-Pérez K, Cattaneo G, Delgado-Gallén S, España-Irla G, Sánchez JS, Tormos JM, Pascual-Leone A, Bartrés-Faz D. TMS-Evoked Prefrontal Perturbation as a Toy Model of Brain Resilience to Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic. RESEARCH SQUARE 2021:rs.3.rs-1139350. [PMID: 34931185 PMCID: PMC8687479 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1139350/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Psychosocial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic led many individuals to suffer adverse mental health consequences, however, others show no negative effects. We hypothesized that the electroencephalographic (EEG) response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could serve as a toy-model of an individual's capacity to resist psychological stress, in this case linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data from 74 participants who underwent mental health monitoring and concurrent electroencephalography with transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) and left inferior parietal lobule (L-IPL). Within the following 19 months, mental health was reassessed at three time points during lock-down confinement and different phases of de-escalation in Spain. Compared with participants who remained stable, those who experienced increased mental distress showed, months earlier, significantly larger late EEG responses locally after L-DLPFC stimulation (but not globally nor after L-IPL stimulation). This response, together with years of formal education, was significantly predictive of mental health status during the pandemic. These findings reveal that the effect of TMS perturbation offers a predictive toy model of psychosocial stress resilience, as exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, and point to the L-DLPFC as a promising target for resilience promotion.
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10
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Mertens A, Carrette S, Klooster D, Lescrauwaet E, Delbeke J, Wadman WJ, Carrette E, Raedt R, Boon P, Vonck K. Investigating the Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Cortical Excitability in Healthy Males. Neuromodulation 2021; 25:395-406. [PMID: 35396071 DOI: 10.1111/ner.13488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES As a potential treatment for epilepsy, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has yielded inconsistent results. Combining transcranial magnetic stimulation with electromyography (TMS-EMG) and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) can be used to investigate the effect of interventions on cortical excitability by evaluating changes in motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs). The goal of this study is to objectively evaluate the effect of taVNS on cortical excitability with TMS-EMG and TMS-EEG. These findings are expected to provide insight in the mechanism of action and help identify more optimal stimulation paradigms. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this prospective single-blind cross-over study, 15 healthy male subjects underwent active and sham taVNS for 60 min, using a maximum tolerated stimulation current. Single and paired pulse TMS was delivered over the right-sided motor hotspot to evaluate MEPs and TEPs before and after the intervention. MEP statistical analysis was conducted with a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. TEPs were analyzed with a cluster-based permutation analysis. Linear regression analysis was implemented to investigate an association with stimulation current. RESULTS MEP and TEP measurements were not affected by taVNS in this study. An association was found between taVNS stimulation current and MEP outcome measures indicating a decrease in cortical excitability in participants who tolerated higher taVNS currents. A subanalysis of participants (n = 8) who tolerated a taVNS current ≥2.5 mA showed a significant increase in the resting motor threshold, decrease in MEP amplitude and modulation of the P60 and P180 TEP components. CONCLUSIONS taVNS did not affect cortical excitability measurements in the overall population in this study. However, taVNS has the potential to modulate specific markers of cortical excitability in participants who tolerate higher stimulation levels. These findings indicate the need for adequate stimulation protocols based on the recording of objective outcome parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Mertens
- Department of Neurology, 4BRAIN Research Group, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie Carrette
- Department of Neurology, 4BRAIN Research Group, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Debby Klooster
- Department of Neurology, 4BRAIN Research Group, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Emma Lescrauwaet
- Department of Neurology, 4BRAIN Research Group, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jean Delbeke
- Department of Neurology, 4BRAIN Research Group, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wytse Jan Wadman
- Swammerdam Institute of Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Evelien Carrette
- Department of Neurology, 4BRAIN Research Group, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robrecht Raedt
- Department of Neurology, 4BRAIN Research Group, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Paul Boon
- Department of Neurology, 4BRAIN Research Group, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Kristl Vonck
- Department of Neurology, 4BRAIN Research Group, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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