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Grigutsch LS, Haverland B, Timmsen LS, Asmussen L, Braaß H, Wolf S, Luu TV, Stagg CJ, Schulz R, Quandt F, Schwab BC. Differential effects of theta-gamma tACS on motor skill acquisition in young individuals and stroke survivors: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:1076-1085. [PMID: 39245294 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.09.001] [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: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Theta-gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) was recently found to enhance thumb acceleration in young, healthy participants, suggesting a potential role in facilitating motor skill acquisition. Given the relevance of motor skill acquisition in stroke rehabilitation, theta-gamma tACS may hold potential for treating stroke survivors. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the effects of theta-gamma tACS on motor skill acquisition in young, healthy participants and stroke survivors. METHODS In a pre-registered, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study, 78 young, healthy participants received either theta-gamma peak-coupled (TGP) tACS, theta-gamma trough-coupled (TGT) tACS or sham stimulation. 20 individuals with a chronic stroke received either TGP or sham. TACS was applied over motor cortical areas while participants performed an acceleration-dependent thumb movement task. Stroke survivors were characterized using standardized testing, with a subgroup receiving additional structural brain imaging. RESULTS Neither TGP nor TGT tACS significantly modified general motor skill acquisition in the young, healthy cohort. In contrast, in the stroke cohort, TGP diminished motor skill acquisition compared to sham. Exploratory analyses revealed that, independent of general motor skill acquisition, healthy participants receiving TGP or TGT exhibited greater peak thumb acceleration than those receiving sham. CONCLUSION Although theta-gamma tACS increased thumb acceleration in young, healthy participants, consistent with previous reports, it did not enhance overall motor skill acquisition in a more complex motor task. Furthermore, it even had detrimental effects on motor skill acquisition in stroke survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S Grigutsch
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - B Haverland
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - L S Timmsen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - L Asmussen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - H Braaß
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - S Wolf
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - T V Luu
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - C J Stagg
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - R Schulz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - F Quandt
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - B C Schwab
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Biomedical Signals and Systems, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.
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Nasimova M, Huang Y. Applications of open-source software ROAST in clinical studies: A review. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:1002-1010. [PMID: 35843597 PMCID: PMC9378654 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) is broadly investigated as a therapeutic technique for a wide range of neurological disorders. The electric fields induced by TES in the brain can be estimated by computational models. A realistic and volumetric approach to simulate TES (ROAST) has been recently released as an open-source software package and has been widely used in TES research and its clinical applications. Rigor and reproducibility of TES studies have recently become a concern, especially in the context of computational modeling. METHODS Here we reviewed 94 clinical TES studies that leveraged ROAST for computational modeling. When reviewing each study, we pay attention to details related to the rigor and reproducibility as defined by the locations of stimulation electrodes and the dose of stimulating current. Specifically, we compared across studies the electrode montages, stimulated brain areas, achieved electric field strength, and the relations between modeled electric field and clinical outcomes. RESULTS We found that over 1800 individual heads have been modeled by ROAST for more than 30 different clinical applications. Similar electric field intensities were found to be reproducible by ROAST across different studies at the same brain area under same or similar stimulation montages. CONCLUSION This article reviews the use cases of ROAST and provides an overview of how ROAST has been leveraged to enhance the rigor and reproducibility of TES research and its applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohigul Nasimova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Yu Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA; Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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