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Maccora S, Sardo P, Giglia G, Torrente A, Di Stefano V, Brighina F. Transcranial alternating current stimulation can modulate the blink reflex excitability. Effects of a 10- and 20-Hz tACS session on the blink reflex recovery cycle in healthy subjects. Neurol Sci 2024:10.1007/s10072-024-07719-x. [PMID: 39096396 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07719-x] [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: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The blink reflex excitability, assessed through paired electrical stimuli responses, has been modulated using traditional non-invasive neurostimulation techniques. Recently, transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) emerged as a tool to modulate brain oscillations implicated in various motor, perceptual, and cognitive functions. This study aims to investigate the influence of 20-Hz and 10-Hz tACS sessions on the primary motor cortex and their impact on blink reflex excitability. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen healthy volunteers underwent 10-min tACS sessions (intensity 1 mA) with active/reference electrodes placed over C4/Pz, delivering 20-Hz, 10-Hz, and sham stimulation. The blink reflex recovery cycle (BRrc) was assessed using the R2 amplitude ratio at various interstimulus intervals (ISIs) before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 30 min post-tACS (T2). RESULTS Both 10-Hz and 20-Hz tACS sessions significantly increased R2 ratio at T1 (10-Hz: p = 0.02; 20-Hz: p < 0.001) and T2 (10-Hz: p = 0.01; 20-Hz: p < 0.001) compared to baseline (T0). Notably, 20-Hz tACS induced a significantly greater increase in blink reflex excitability compared to sham at both T1 (p = 0.04) and T2 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the modulatory effect of tACS on trigemino-facial reflex circuits, with a lasting impact on BRrc. Beta-band frequency tACS exhibited a more pronounced effect than alpha-band frequency, highlighting the influential role of beta-band oscillations in the motor cortex on blink reflex excitability modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Maccora
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.
- ARNAS Civico, Di Cristina, Via del Vespro 143, 90129, Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Pierangelo Sardo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giglia
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
| | - Angelo Torrente
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Stefano
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
| | - Filippo Brighina
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
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2
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Huang X, Wei X, Wang J, Yi G. Frequency-dependent membrane polarization across neocortical cell types and subcellular elements by transcranial alternating current stimulation. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:016034. [PMID: 38382101 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad2b8a] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Objective.Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that directly interacts with ongoing brain oscillations in a frequency-dependent manner. However, it remains largely unclear how the cellular effects of tACS vary between cell types and subcellular elements.Approach.In this study, we use a set of morphologically realistic models of neocortical neurons to simulate the cellular response to uniform oscillating electric fields (EFs). We systematically characterize the membrane polarization in the soma, axons, and dendrites with varying field directions, intensities, and frequencies.Main results.Pyramidal cells are more sensitive to axial EF that is roughly parallel to the cortical column, while interneurons are sensitive to axial EF and transverse EF that is tangent to the cortical surface. Membrane polarization in each subcellular element increases linearly with EF intensity, and its slope, i.e. polarization length, highly depends on the stimulation frequency. At each frequency, pyramidal cells are more polarized than interneurons. Axons usually experience the highest polarization, followed by the dendrites and soma. Moreover, a visible frequency resonance presents in the apical dendrites of pyramidal cells, while the other subcellular elements primarily exhibit low-pass filtering properties. In contrast, each subcellular element of interneurons exhibits complex frequency-dependent polarization. Polarization phase in each subcellular element of cortical neurons lags that of field and exhibits high-pass filtering properties. These results demonstrate that the membrane polarization is not only frequency-dependent, but also cell type- and subcellular element-specific. Through relating effective length and ion mechanism with polarization, we emphasize the crucial role of cell morphology and biophysics in determining the frequency-dependent membrane polarization.Significance.Our findings highlight the diverse polarization patterns across cell types as well as subcellular elements, which provide some insights into the tACS cellular effects and should be considered when understanding the neural spiking activity by tACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Huang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Xile Wei
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang Wang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Guosheng Yi
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
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3
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Wischnewski M, Tran H, Zhao Z, Shirinpour S, Haigh ZJ, Rotteveel J, Perera ND, Alekseichuk I, Zimmermann J, Opitz A. Induced neural phase precession through exogenous electric fields. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1687. [PMID: 38402188 PMCID: PMC10894208 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45898-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The gradual shifting of preferred neural spiking relative to local field potentials (LFPs), known as phase precession, plays a prominent role in neural coding. Correlations between the phase precession and behavior have been observed throughout various brain regions. As such, phase precession is suggested to be a global neural mechanism that promotes local neuroplasticity. However, causal evidence and neuroplastic mechanisms of phase precession are lacking so far. Here we show a causal link between LFP dynamics and phase precession. In three experiments, we modulated LFPs in humans, a non-human primate, and computational models using alternating current stimulation. We show that continuous stimulation of motor cortex oscillations in humans lead to a gradual phase shift of maximal corticospinal excitability by ~90°. Further, exogenous alternating current stimulation induced phase precession in a subset of entrained neurons (~30%) in the non-human primate. Multiscale modeling of realistic neural circuits suggests that alternating current stimulation-induced phase precession is driven by NMDA-mediated synaptic plasticity. Altogether, the three experiments provide mechanistic and causal evidence for phase precession as a global neocortical process. Alternating current-induced phase precession and consequently synaptic plasticity is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic neuromodulation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Harry Tran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zhihe Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sina Shirinpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zachary J Haigh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jonna Rotteveel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nipun D Perera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ivan Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jan Zimmermann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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4
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Wischnewski M, Tran H, Zhao Z, Shirinpour S, Haigh Z, Rotteveel J, Perera N, Alekseichuk I, Zimmermann J, Opitz A. Induced neural phase precession through exogeneous electric fields. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.31.535073. [PMID: 37034780 PMCID: PMC10081336 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.31.535073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
The gradual shifting of preferred neural spiking relative to local field potentials (LFPs), known as phase precession, plays a prominent role in neural coding. Correlations between the phase precession and behavior have been observed throughout various brain regions. As such, phase precession is suggested to be a global neural mechanism that promotes local neuroplasticity. However, causal evidence and neuroplastic mechanisms of phase precession are lacking so far. Here we show a causal link between LFP dynamics and phase precession. In three experiments, we modulated LFPs in humans, a non-human primate, and computational models using alternating current stimulation. We show that continuous stimulation of motor cortex oscillations in humans lead to a gradual phase shift of maximal corticospinal excitability by ~90°. Further, exogenous alternating current stimulation induced phase precession in a subset of entrained neurons (~30%) in the non-human primate. Multiscale modeling of realistic neural circuits suggests that alternating current stimulation-induced phase precession is driven by NMDA-mediated synaptic plasticity. Altogether, the three experiments provide mechanistic and causal evidence for phase precession as a global neocortical process. Alternating current-induced phase precession and consequently synaptic plasticity is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic neuromodulation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - H. Tran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Z. Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - S. Shirinpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Z.J. Haigh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - J. Rotteveel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - N.D. Perera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - I. Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - J. Zimmermann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - A. Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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5
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Cabrera-Álvarez J, Sánchez-Claros J, Carrasco-Gómez M, del Cerro-León A, Gómez-Ariza CJ, Maestú F, Mirasso CR, Susi G. Understanding the effects of cortical gyrification in tACS: insights from experiments and computational models. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1223950. [PMID: 37655010 PMCID: PMC10467425 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1223950] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The alpha rhythm is often associated with relaxed wakefulness or idling and is altered by various factors. Abnormalities in the alpha rhythm have been linked to several neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has been proposed as a potential tool to restore a disrupted alpha rhythm in the brain by stimulating at the individual alpha frequency (IAF), although some research has produced contradictory results. In this study, we applied an IAF-tACS protocol over parieto-occipital areas to a sample of healthy subjects and measured its effects over the power spectra. Additionally, we used computational models to get a deeper understanding of the results observed in the experiment. Both experimental and numerical results showed an increase in alpha power of 8.02% with respect to the sham condition in a widespread set of regions in the cortex, excluding some expected parietal regions. This result could be partially explained by taking into account the orientation of the electric field with respect to the columnar structures of the cortex, showing that the gyrification in parietal regions could generate effects in opposite directions (hyper-/depolarization) at the same time in specific brain regions. Additionally, we used a network model of spiking neuronal populations to explore the effects that these opposite polarities could have on neural activity, and we found that the best predictor of alpha power was the average of the normal components of the electric field. To sum up, our study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying tACS brain activity modulation, using both empirical and computational approaches. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques hold promise for treating brain disorders, but further research is needed to fully understand and control their effects on brain dynamics and cognition. Our findings contribute to this growing body of research and provide a foundation for future studies aimed at optimizing the use of non-invasive brain stimulation in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Cabrera-Álvarez
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Sánchez-Claros
- Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos (IFISC, UIB-CSIC), Campus UIB, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Martín Carrasco-Gómez
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Image Technologies, ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto del Cerro-León
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Fernando Maestú
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Claudio R. Mirasso
- Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos (IFISC, UIB-CSIC), Campus UIB, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Gianluca Susi
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Structure of Matter, Thermal Physics and Electronics, School of Physics, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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6
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Soleimani G, Nitsche MA, Bergmann TO, Towhidkhah F, Violante IR, Lorenz R, Kuplicki R, Tsuchiyagaito A, Mulyana B, Mayeli A, Ghobadi-Azbari P, Mosayebi-Samani M, Zilverstand A, Paulus MP, Bikson M, Ekhtiari H. Closing the loop between brain and electrical stimulation: towards precision neuromodulation treatments. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:279. [PMID: 37582922 PMCID: PMC10427701 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02565-5] [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: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most critical challenges in using noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques for the treatment of psychiatric and neurologic disorders is inter- and intra-individual variability in response to NIBS. Response variations in previous findings suggest that the one-size-fits-all approach does not seem the most appropriate option for enhancing stimulation outcomes. While there is a growing body of evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of individualized NIBS approaches, the optimal way to achieve this is yet to be determined. Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is one of the NIBS techniques showing promising results in modulating treatment outcomes in several psychiatric and neurologic disorders, but it faces the same challenge for individual optimization. With new computational and methodological advances, tES can be integrated with real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI) to establish closed-loop tES-fMRI for individually optimized neuromodulation. Closed-loop tES-fMRI systems aim to optimize stimulation parameters based on minimizing differences between the model of the current brain state and the desired value to maximize the expected clinical outcome. The methodological space to optimize closed-loop tES fMRI for clinical applications includes (1) stimulation vs. data acquisition timing, (2) fMRI context (task-based or resting-state), (3) inherent brain oscillations, (4) dose-response function, (5) brain target trait and state and (6) optimization algorithm. Closed-loop tES-fMRI technology has several advantages over non-individualized or open-loop systems to reshape the future of neuromodulation with objective optimization in a clinically relevant context such as drug cue reactivity for substance use disorder considering both inter and intra-individual variations. Using multi-level brain and behavior measures as input and desired outcomes to individualize stimulation parameters provides a framework for designing personalized tES protocols in precision psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazaleh Soleimani
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
- Bielefeld University, University Hospital OWL, Protestant Hospital of Bethel Foundation, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, and University Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Til Ole Bergmann
- Neuroimaging Center, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Farzad Towhidkhah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ines R Violante
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guilford, UK
| | - Romy Lorenz
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- MRC CBU, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Neurophysics, MPI, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Beni Mulyana
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Ahmad Mayeli
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburg, PA, USA
| | - Peyman Ghobadi-Azbari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Mosayebi-Samani
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Anna Zilverstand
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Hamed Ekhtiari
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA.
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Rauh J, Müller ASM, Nolte G, Haaf M, Mußmann M, Steinmann S, Mulert C, Leicht G. Comparison of transcranial brain stimulation approaches: prefrontal theta alternating current stimulation enhances working memory performance. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1140361. [PMID: 37457770 PMCID: PMC10348840 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1140361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction One of the most important cognitive functions in our everyday life is the working memory (WM). In several neuropsychiatric diseases such as ADHD or schizophrenia WM deficits can be observed, making it an attractive target for non-invasive brain stimulation methods like transcranial electrical stimulation (tES). However, the literature shows rather heterogeneous results of tES effects on WM performance. fMRI meta-analyses have identified a WM network including frontoparietal brain areas such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the posterior parietal cortex (PPC). Neurophysiological studies revealed oscillatory activity in the theta band frequency range to be of crucial functional relevance for WM processes. Based on this, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the theta frequency range targeting DLPFC and PPC in a spatially optimized way might further improve effects of tES on WM performance. Methods Sixteen healthy subjects were stimulated with varying stimulation settings on four different days in a counterbalanced within-subject design. These setups included the application of (1) tACS with a frequency of 5 Hz (theta frequency range) over the left DLPFC and (2) the right superior parietal cortex, (3) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the DLPFC and (4) a sham stimulation condition during the online performance of a visual delayed-match-to-sample task with varying working memory load. We introduce a procedure to calculate an optimal tES model revealing optimized high-density setups for the present study for 3 cathodes and 1 anode and stimulation currents of 1.5 mA. Results A significant interaction effect of stimulation type and load condition on working memory capacity was found. This was reflected by a significant improvement of WM performance in the high load condition during tACS over the left DLPFC compared with sham stimulation, which was not the case for our parietal tACS or tDCS setup. Discussion Working memory performance can be improved with optimized high-definition tACS with a frequency of 5 Hz over the left DLPFC. The conception of different mechanisms underlying transcranial electrical stimulation with alternating and direct currents is supported by these results. Patients suffering from working memory impairments due to neuropsychiatric diseases might potentially benefit from this brain stimulation approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Rauh
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne S. M. Müller
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Guido Nolte
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Haaf
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marius Mußmann
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Saskia Steinmann
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Mulert
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center of Psychiatry, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Gregor Leicht
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Wischnewski M, Alekseichuk I, Opitz A. Neurocognitive, physiological, and biophysical effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation. Trends Cogn Sci 2023; 27:189-205. [PMID: 36543610 PMCID: PMC9852081 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can modulate human neural activity and behavior. Accordingly, tACS has vast potential for cognitive research and brain disorder therapies. The stimulation generates oscillating electric fields in the brain that can bias neural spike timing, causing changes in local neural oscillatory power and cross-frequency and cross-area coherence. tACS affects cognitive performance by modulating underlying single or nested brain rhythms, local or distal synchronization, and metabolic activity. Clinically, stimulation tailored to abnormal neural oscillations shows promising results in alleviating psychiatric and neurological symptoms. We summarize the findings of tACS mechanisms, its use for cognitive applications, and novel developments for personalized stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ivan Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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9
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Kromer JA, Tass PA. Synaptic reshaping of plastic neuronal networks by periodic multichannel stimulation with single-pulse and burst stimuli. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010568. [PMID: 36327232 PMCID: PMC9632832 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic dysfunction is associated with several brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease (PD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Utilizing synaptic plasticity, brain stimulation is capable of reshaping synaptic connectivity. This may pave the way for novel therapies that specifically counteract pathological synaptic connectivity. For instance, in PD, novel multichannel coordinated reset stimulation (CRS) was designed to counteract neuronal synchrony and down-regulate pathological synaptic connectivity. CRS was shown to entail long-lasting therapeutic aftereffects in PD patients and related animal models. This is in marked contrast to conventional deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy, where PD symptoms return shortly after stimulation ceases. In the present paper, we study synaptic reshaping by periodic multichannel stimulation (PMCS) in networks of leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neurons with spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP). During PMCS, phase-shifted periodic stimulus trains are delivered to segregated neuronal subpopulations. Harnessing STDP, PMCS leads to changes of the synaptic network structure. We found that the PMCS-induced changes of the network structure depend on both the phase lags between stimuli and the shape of individual stimuli. Single-pulse stimuli and burst stimuli with low intraburst frequency down-regulate synapses between neurons receiving stimuli simultaneously. In contrast, burst stimuli with high intraburst frequency up-regulate these synapses. We derive theoretical approximations of the stimulation-induced network structure. This enables us to formulate stimulation strategies for inducing a variety of network structures. Our results provide testable hypotheses for future pre-clinical and clinical studies and suggest that periodic multichannel stimulation may be suitable for reshaping plastic neuronal networks to counteract pathological synaptic connectivity. Furthermore, we provide novel insight on how the stimulus type may affect the long-lasting outcome of conventional DBS. This may strongly impact parameter adjustment procedures for clinical DBS, which, so far, primarily focused on acute effects of stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus A Kromer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Peter A Tass
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
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10
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Long-lasting, dissociable improvements in working memory and long-term memory in older adults with repetitive neuromodulation. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:1237-1246. [PMID: 35995877 PMCID: PMC10068908 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01132-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The development of technologies to protect or enhance memory in older people is an enduring goal of translational medicine. Here we describe repetitive (4-day) transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) protocols for the selective, sustainable enhancement of auditory-verbal working memory and long-term memory in 65-88-year-old people. Modulation of synchronous low-frequency, but not high-frequency, activity in parietal cortex preferentially improved working memory on day 3 and day 4 and 1 month after intervention, whereas modulation of synchronous high-frequency, but not low-frequency, activity in prefrontal cortex preferentially improved long-term memory on days 2-4 and 1 month after intervention. The rate of memory improvements over 4 days predicted the size of memory benefits 1 month later. Individuals with lower baseline cognitive function experienced larger, more enduring memory improvements. Our findings demonstrate that the plasticity of the aging brain can be selectively and sustainably exploited using repetitive and highly focalized neuromodulation grounded in spatiospectral parameters of memory-specific cortical circuitry.
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11
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Nasr K, Haslacher D, Dayan E, Censor N, Cohen LG, Soekadar SR. Breaking the boundaries of interacting with the human brain using adaptive closed-loop stimulation. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 216:102311. [PMID: 35750290 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The human brain is arguably one of the most complex systems in nature. To understand how it operates, it is essential to understand the link between neural activity and behavior. Experimental investigation of that link requires tools to interact with neural activity during behavior. Human neuroscience, however, has been severely bottlenecked by the limitations of these tools. While invasive methods can support highly specific interaction with brain activity during behavior, their applicability in human neuroscience is limited. Despite extensive development in the last decades, noninvasive alternatives have lacked spatial specificity and yielded results that are commonly fraught with variability and replicability issues, along with relatively limited understanding of the neural mechanisms involved. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art in interacting with human brain activity and highlight current limitations and recent efforts to overcome these limitations. Beyond crucial technical and scientific advancements in electromagnetic brain stimulation, new frontiers in interacting with human brain activity such as task-irrelevant sensory stimulation and focal ultrasound stimulation are introduced. Finally, we argue that, along with technological improvements and breakthroughs in noninvasive methods, a paradigm shift towards adaptive closed-loop stimulation will be a critical step for advancing human neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Nasr
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory & Center for Translational Neuromodulation, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte (CCM), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Haslacher
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory & Center for Translational Neuromodulation, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte (CCM), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eran Dayan
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Research Imaging Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Nitzan Censor
- School of Psychological Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Leonardo G Cohen
- Human Cortical Physiology and Neurorehabilitation Section, National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Surjo R Soekadar
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory & Center for Translational Neuromodulation, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte (CCM), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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12
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Madadi Asl M, Asadi A, Enayati J, Valizadeh A. Inhibitory Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity Can Account for Pathological Strengthening of Pallido-Subthalamic Synapses in Parkinson's Disease. Front Physiol 2022; 13:915626. [PMID: 35665225 PMCID: PMC9160312 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.915626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder associated with dysfunction of the basal ganglia (BG) circuitry. Dopamine (DA) depletion in experimental PD models leads to the pathological strengthening of pallido-subthalamic synaptic connections, contributing to the emergence of abnormally synchronized neuronal activity in the external segment of the globus pallidus (GPe) and subthalamic nucleus (STN). Augmented GPe-STN transmission following loss of DA was attributed to heterosynaptic plasticity mechanisms induced by cortico-subthalamic inputs. However, synaptic plasticity may play a role in this process. Here, by employing computational modeling we show that assuming inhibitory spike-timing-dependent plasticity (iSTDP) at pallido-subthalamic synapses can account for pathological strengthening of pallido-subthalamic synapses in PD by further promoting correlated neuronal activity in the GPe-STN network. In addition, we show that GPe-STN transmission delays can shape bistable activity-connectivity states due to iSTDP, characterized by strong connectivity and strong synchronized activity (pathological states) as opposed to weak connectivity and desynchronized activity (physiological states). Our results may shed light on how abnormal reshaping of GPe-STN connectivity by synaptic plasticity during parkinsonism is related to the PD pathophysiology and contribute to the development of therapeutic brain stimulation techniques targeting plasticity-induced rewiring of network connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Madadi Asl
- Department of Physics, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, Iran
| | - Atefeh Asadi
- Department of Physics, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, Iran
| | - Jamil Enayati
- Physics Department, College of Education, University of Garmian, Kalar, Iraq
| | - Alireza Valizadeh
- Department of Physics, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, Iran
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13
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Senkowski D, Sobirey R, Haslacher D, Soekadar SR. Boosting working memory: Uncovering the differential effects of tDCS and tACS. Cereb Cortex Commun 2022; 3:tgac018. [PMID: 35592391 PMCID: PMC9113288 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Working memory (WM) is essential for reasoning, decision making and problem solving. Recently, there has been an increasing effort in improving WM through non-invasive brain stimulation, especially transcranial direct and alternating current stimulation (tDCS/tACS). Studies suggest that tDCS and tACS can modulate WM performance, but large variability in research approaches hinders identification of optimal stimulation protocols and interpretation of study results. Moreover, it is unclear whether tDCS and tACS differentially affect WM. Here, we summarize and compare studies examining the effects of tDCS and tACS on WM performance in healthy adults. Following PRISMA-selection criteria, our systematic review resulted in 43 studies (29 tDCS, 11 tACS, 3 both) with a total of 1826 adult participants. For tDCS, only 4 out of 23 single-session studies reported effects on WM, while 7 out of 9 multi-session experiments showed positive effects on WM training. For tACS, 10 out of 14 studies demonstrated effects on WM, which were frequency dependent and robust for frontoparietal stimulation. Our review revealed no reliable effect of single-session tDCS on WM, but moderate effects of multi-session tDCS and single-session tACS. We discuss implications of these findings and future directions in the emerging research field of non-invasive brain stimulation and WM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Senkowski
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte (CCM), Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
| | - Rabea Sobirey
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte (CCM), Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
| | - David Haslacher
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte (CCM), Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
| | - Surjo R Soekadar
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte (CCM), Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
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14
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Vogeti S, Boetzel C, Herrmann CS. Entrainment and Spike-Timing Dependent Plasticity – A Review of Proposed Mechanisms of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:827353. [PMID: 35283735 PMCID: PMC8909135 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.827353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific frequency bands of neural oscillations have been correlated with a range of cognitive and behavioral effects (e.g., memory and attention). The causal role of specific frequencies may be investigated using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), a non-invasive brain stimulation method. TACS involves applying a sinusoidal current between two or more electrodes attached on the scalp, above neural regions that are implicated in cognitive processes of interest. The theorized mechanisms by which tACS affects neural oscillations have implications for the exact stimulation frequency used, as well as its anticipated effects. This review outlines two main mechanisms that are thought to underlie tACS effects – entrainment, and spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP). Entrainment suggests that the stimulated frequency synchronizes the ongoing neural oscillations, and is thought to be most effective when the stimulated frequency is at or close to the endogenous frequency of the targeted neural network. STDP suggests that stimulation leads to synaptic changes based on the timing of neuronal firing in the target neural network. According to the principles of STDP, synaptic strength is thought to increase when pre-synaptic events occur prior to post-synaptic events (referred to as long-term potentiation, LTP). Conversely, when post-synaptic events occur prior to pre-synaptic events, synapses are thought to be weakened (referred to as long-term depression, LTD). In this review, we summarize the theoretical frameworks and critically review the tACS evidence for each hypothesis. We also discuss whether each mechanism alone can account for tACS effects or whether a combined account is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreekari Vogeti
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence “Hearing for All”, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Cindy Boetzel
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence “Hearing for All”, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christoph S. Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence “Hearing for All”, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
- Neuroimaging Unit, European Medical School, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christoph S. Herrmann,
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15
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Kannen K, Aslan B, Boetzel C, Herrmann CS, Lux S, Rosen H, Selaskowski B, Wiebe A, Philipsen A, Braun N. P300 Modulation via Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Crossover Study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:928145. [PMID: 35923453 PMCID: PMC9339709 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.928145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A repeated finding regarding event-related potentials (ERPs) is that patients with ADHD show a reduced P300 amplitude. This raises the question of whether the attention of ADHD patients can be increased by stabilizing the P300. Assuming that the P300 is generated by event-related oscillations (EROs) in the low frequency range (0-8 Hz), one approach to increase the P300 could be to stimulate the patient's P300 underlying ERO by means of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). The aim of this follow-up study was to investigate this hypothesized mechanism of action in adult ADHD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Undergoing a crossover design, 20 adult ADHD patients (10 female) received an actual stimulation via tACS on one day and a sham stimulation on another day. Before and after each intervention, EEG characteristics (P300 amplitudes, low frequency power) and attention performances (d2 attention test, visual oddball task (VOT)) were recorded. RESULTS Electrophysiological analyses revealed no evidence for an enhanced P300 amplitude or low frequency power increase after actual stimulation compared to sham stimulation. Instead, a significant effect was found for a stronger N700 amplitude increase after actual stimulation compared to sham stimulation. Consistent with the P300 null results, none of the examined neuropsychological performance measures indicated a tACS-induced improvement in attentional ability. CONCLUSION Contrary to a previous study using tACS to modulate the P300 in adult ADHD patients, the current study yields no evidence that tACS can increase the P300 amplitude in adult ADHD patients and that such P300 enhancement can directly improve neuropsychological parameters of attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Kannen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Behrem Aslan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Cindy Boetzel
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christoph S Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Silke Lux
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Helena Rosen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Benjamin Selaskowski
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Annika Wiebe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Philipsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Niclas Braun
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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16
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Madadi Asl M, Vahabie AH, Valizadeh A, Tass PA. Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity Mediated by Dopamine and its Role in Parkinson's Disease Pathophysiology. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 2:817524. [PMID: 36926058 PMCID: PMC10013044 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2022.817524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multi-systemic neurodegenerative brain disorder. Motor symptoms of PD are linked to the significant dopamine (DA) loss in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) followed by basal ganglia (BG) circuit dysfunction. Increasing experimental and computational evidence indicates that (synaptic) plasticity plays a key role in the emergence of PD-related pathological changes following DA loss. Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) mediated by DA provides a mechanistic model for synaptic plasticity to modify synaptic connections within the BG according to the neuronal activity. To shed light on how DA-mediated STDP can shape neuronal activity and synaptic connectivity in the PD condition, we reviewed experimental and computational findings addressing the modulatory effect of DA on STDP as well as other plasticity mechanisms and discussed their potential role in PD pathophysiology and related network dynamics and connectivity. In particular, reshaping of STDP profiles together with other plasticity-mediated processes following DA loss may abnormally modify synaptic connections in competing pathways of the BG. The cascade of plasticity-induced maladaptive or compensatory changes can impair the excitation-inhibition balance towards the BG output nuclei, leading to the emergence of pathological activity-connectivity patterns in PD. Pre-clinical, clinical as well as computational studies reviewed here provide an understanding of the impact of synaptic plasticity and other plasticity mechanisms on PD pathophysiology, especially PD-related network activity and connectivity, after DA loss. This review may provide further insights into the abnormal structure-function relationship within the BG contributing to the emergence of pathological states in PD. Specifically, this review is intended to provide detailed information for the development of computational network models for PD, serving as testbeds for the development and optimization of invasive and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. Computationally derived hypotheses may accelerate the development of therapeutic stimulation techniques and potentially reduce the number of related animal experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Madadi Asl
- Department of Physics, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, Iran
| | - Abdol-Hossein Vahabie
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Valizadeh
- Department of Physics, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, Iran
| | - Peter A Tass
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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