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Ko DK, Lee H, Kim DI, Park YM, Kang N. Transcranial direct current stimulation improves heart rate variability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 134:111072. [PMID: 38925337 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful tool for evaluating cardiovascular autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the potential effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) protocols on HRV parameters. METHODS This study acquired 97 comparisons from 24 qualified studies for data synthesis. Using standardized mean difference (SMD), individual and overall effect sizes were estimated to show differences in HRV variables between active tDCS and sham stimulation conditions. More positive effect size values indicated that active tDCS caused greater increases in HRV than sham stimulation. Furthermore, moderator variable analyses were performed to determine whether changes in HRV variables differed depending on (a) task types (physical stress versus psychological stress versus resting condition), (b) targeted brain regions, (c) stimulation polarity, (d) characteristics of participants, and (e) specific HRV variables. Finally, we used meta-regression analyses to determine whether different tDCS parameters (i.e., the number of tDCS sessions, stimulation duration, and density) were associated with changes in HRV patterns. RESULTS The random-effects model meta-analysis showed that tDCS protocols significantly improved HRV variables (SMD = 0.400; P < 0.001). Moreover, for increasing HRV during the physical stress task (SMD = 1.352; P = 0.001), anodal stimulation on the M1 was effective, while combined polarity stimulation on the PFC improved HRV during the psychological stress task (SMD = 0.550; P < 0.001) and resting condition (SMD = 0.192; P = 0.012). Additional moderator variables and meta-regression analyses failed to show that tDCS protocols had positive effects in certain conditions, such as different stimulus polarity, characteristics of participants, specific HRV variables, and tDCS parameters. CONCLUSION These findings tentatively suggest that using tDCS protocols to stimulate optimal targeted brain areas may be effective in improving HRV patterns potentially related to cardiovascular ANS functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do-Kyung Ko
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea; Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
| | - Hajun Lee
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea; Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
| | - Dong-Il Kim
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea; Division of Health & Kinesiology, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
| | - Young-Min Park
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea; Division of Health & Kinesiology, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
| | - Nyeonju Kang
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea; Division of Sport Science, Sport Science Institute & Health Promotion Center, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea; Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
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Gilbert P. Threat, safety, safeness and social safeness 30 years on: Fundamental dimensions and distinctions for mental health and well-being. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38698734 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
In 1993, the British Journal of Clinical Psychology published my paper titled 'Defence and safety: Their function in social behaviour and psychopathology'. The paper highlights that to understand people's sensitivity to threat, we also need to understand their ability to identify what is safe. This paper offers an update on these concepts, highlighting distinctions that were implicit but not clearly defined at the time. Hence, the paper seeks to clarify distinctions between: (i) threat detection and response, (ii) safety and safety seeking, (iii) safeness and (iv) their social and non-social functions and forms. Threat detection and response are to prevent or minimize harm (e.g., run from a predator or fire). Safety checking relates to monitoring for the absence and avoidance of threat, while safety seeking links to the destination of the defensive behaviour (e.g., running home). Safety seeking also relates to maintaining vigilance to the appearance of potential harms and doing things believed to avoid harm. Threat-defending and safety checking and seeking are regulated primarily through evolved threat processing systems that monitor the nature, presence, controllability and/or absence of threat (e.g., amygdala and sympathetic nervous system). Safeness uses different monitoring systems via different psychophysiological systems (e.g., prefrontal cortex, parasympathetic system) for the presence of internal and external resources that support threat-coping, risk-taking, resource exploration. Creating brain states that recruit safeness processing can impact how standard evidence-based therapies (e.g., exposure, distress tolerance and reappraisal) are experienced and produce long-term change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Gilbert
- Centre of Compassion Research and Training, College of Health and Social Care Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, UK
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Kappen M, Vanhollebeke G, Van Der Donckt J, Van Hoecke S, Vanderhasselt MA. Acoustic and prosodic speech features reflect physiological stress but not isolated negative affect: a multi-paradigm study on psychosocial stressors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5515. [PMID: 38448417 PMCID: PMC10918109 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55550-3] [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: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity in speech under stress has been a recurring issue in stress research, potentially due to varied stress induction paradigms. This study investigated speech features in semi-guided speech following two distinct psychosocial stress paradigms (Cyberball and MIST) and their respective control conditions. Only negative affect increased during Cyberball, while self-reported stress, skin conductance response rate, and negative affect increased during MIST. Fundamental frequency (F0), speech rate, and jitter significantly changed during MIST, but not Cyberball; HNR and shimmer showed no expected changes. The results indicate that observed speech features are robust in semi-guided speech and sensitive to stressors eliciting additional physiological stress responses, not solely decreases in negative affect. These differences between stressors may explain literature heterogeneity. Our findings support the potential of speech as a stress level biomarker, especially when stress elicits physiological reactions, similar to other biomarkers. This highlights its promise as a tool for measuring stress in everyday settings, considering its affordability, non-intrusiveness, and ease of collection. Future research should test these results' robustness and specificity in naturalistic settings, such as freely spoken speech and noisy environments while exploring and validating a broader range of informative speech features in the context of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchel Kappen
- Department of Head and Skin, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium.
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Gert Vanhollebeke
- Department of Head and Skin, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jonas Van Der Donckt
- IDLab, Ghent University - Imec, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie Van Hoecke
- IDLab, Ghent University - Imec, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Head and Skin, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Haakana P, Holopainen K, Nätkynmäki A, Kirveskari E, Tarvainen MP, Shulga A. The effect of paired associative stimulation with a high-intensity cortical component and a high-frequency peripheral component on heart rate and heart rate variability in healthy subjects. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2023; 4:1200958. [PMID: 37565182 PMCID: PMC10410150 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1200958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Objective A novel protocol for paired associative stimulation (PAS), called high PAS, consists of high-intensity transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and high-frequency peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). High PAS was developed for spinal cord injury rehabilitation and targets plastic changes in stimulated pathways in the corticospinal tract, which improves motor function. As therapy interventions can last many weeks, it is important to fully understand the effects of high PAS, including its effect on the cardiovascular system. Heart rate variability (HRV) has been used to measure changes in both sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Methods We used short-term HRV measurements to evaluate the effects of one 20-min session of high PAS on 17 healthy individuals. HRV was recorded for 5 min before (PRE), during (STIM), immediately after (POST), 30 min after (POST30), and 60 min after (POST60) the stimulation. Five participants repeated the HRV setup with sham stimulation. Results A significant decrease in low-frequency (LF) power (n.u.) (p = 0.002), low-frequency to high-frequency (HF) ratio (p = 0.017), in Poincaré plot [the standard deviation of RR intervals perpendicular to (SD1) and along (SD2) the line of identity SD2/SD1 ratio p < 0.001], and an increase in HF power (n.u.) (p = 0.002) were observed between PRE and STIM conditions; these changes were fully reversible immediately after stimulation. PRE to POST by 3% (p = 0.015) and continued to decline until POST60 by 5% (p = 0.011). LF power (ms2) (p = 0.017) and SD2 (p = 0.015) decreased from PRE to STIM and increased from PRE to POST (p = 0.025 and p = 0.017, respectively). The results from sham PAS exhibited a trend similar to active high-PAS stimulation. Conclusions High PAS does not have sustained effects during 60-min follow-up on cardiovascular functions, as measured by HRV. None of the short-term results indicates activation of the sympathetic nervous system in healthy individuals. Observed changes in HRV indicate higher parasympathetic activity during stimulation, which is reversible, and is plausibly explained by the fact that the participants spend 20 min without moving, talking, or using phones while being stimulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Haakana
- BioMag Laboratory, HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki and Aalto University School of Science, Helsinki, Finland
- Motion Analysis Laboratory, New Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - K. Holopainen
- BioMag Laboratory, HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki and Aalto University School of Science, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A. Nätkynmäki
- BioMag Laboratory, HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki and Aalto University School of Science, Helsinki, Finland
| | - E. Kirveskari
- BioMag Laboratory, HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki and Aalto University School of Science, Helsinki, Finland
- HUS Medical Imaging Center, Clinical Neurophysiology, Clinical Neurosciences, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M. P. Tarvainen
- Department of Technical Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - A. Shulga
- BioMag Laboratory, HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki and Aalto University School of Science, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Di Bello M, Giudetti F, Palani S, Petrocchi N, McIntosh R, Ottaviani C. Modulatory effects of transcranial direct current stimulation of right insula on compassion motivation. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2023; 23:100362. [PMID: 36605771 PMCID: PMC9800245 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2022.100362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Compassion motivation is associated with increased heart rate variability (HRV), reflecting a calm and self-soothing physiological state. Recent work, however, suggests that this association is dynamic for the specific components of compassion. Objectives The present study adopted anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the right insula to see whether this would modulate the sensitivity to suffering and the commitment to engage in helpful actions (i.e., the components of compassion motivation). Method Ninety-seven healthy individuals underwent 15-min anodal or sham tDCS over the frontotemporal lobe, while watching a video inducing empathic sensitivity and performing a Redistribution Game. Tonic and phasic HRV, dispositional traits, and momentary affects were assessed. Results Compared to sham condition, anodal stimulation favored significant i) HRV reductions during the video and HRV increases during the Redistribution Game; ii) decreases in self-reported levels of negative affect and increases in positive affect during task when the latter was preceded by the video, without influencing altruistic behavior. Conclusions Anodal tDCS over the right insula may modulate the engagement phase of compassion by intensifying the psychophysiological sensitivity to signals of distress and protecting from being subjectively overwhelmed by it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Di Bello
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Giudetti
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sowmya Palani
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Petrocchi
- Department of Psychological and Social Sciences, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
| | - Roger McIntosh
- Department of Psychology, Divisions of Health, Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Miami, FL, USA
| | - Cristina Ottaviani
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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Kamboj SK, Peniket M, Simeonov L. A bioelectronic route to compassion: Rationale and study protocol for combining transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) with compassionate mental imagery. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282861. [PMID: 36913378 PMCID: PMC10010509 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vagus nerve (VN) is a neural nexus between the brain and body, enabling bidirectional regulation of mental functioning and peripheral physiology. Some limited correlational findings suggest an association between VN activation and a particular form of self-regulation: compassionate responding. Interventions that are geared towards strengthening self-compassion in particular, can serve as an antidote to toxic shame and self-criticism and improve psychological health. OBJECTIVE We describe a protocol for examining the role of VN activation on 'state' self-compassion, self-criticism, and related outcomes. By combining transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) with a brief imagery-based self-compassion intervention, we aim to preliminarily test additivity versus synergy between these distinct bottom-up and top-down methods for putatively regulating vagal activity. We also test whether the effects of VN stimulation accumulate with daily stimulation and daily compassionate imagery practice. METHODS Using a randomized 2 x 2 factorial (stimulation x imagery condition) design, healthy volunteers (n = 120) receive active (tragus) or sham (earlobe) tVNS plus standardized (audio-recorded) self-compassionate or sham mental imagery instructions. These interventions are delivered in a university-based psychological laboratory in two sessions, one week apart, as well as being self-administered between sessions by participants at home. Pre-stimulation, peri-stimulation and post-imagery measures of state self-compassion, self-criticism and related self-report outcomes are assessed in two lab sessions, separated by a week (Days 1 and 8). Heart rate variability is used as a physiological metric of vagal activity and an eye-tracking task assesses attentional bias to compassionate faces during the two lab sessions. On Days 2-7, participants continue their randomly assigned stimulation and imagery tasks at home, and complete state measures at the end of each remote session. DISCUSSION Demonstrating modulation of compassionate responding using tVNS would support a causal link between VN activation and compassion. This would provide a basis for future studies of bioelectronic approaches to augmenting therapeutic contemplative techniques. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT05441774 (Date: July 1st 2022). OSF REGISTRATION https://osf.io/4t9ha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunjeev K. Kamboj
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Matthew Peniket
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Simeonov
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Quintiliano A, Bikson M, Oehmen T, Pegado R, Kirsztajn GM. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): Pain Management in End-Stage Renal Disease - Report of an Early Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pain Symptom Manage 2022; 64:234-243.e1. [PMID: 35640767 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Chronic pain in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is an increasingly neglected clinical problem affecting more than 60% of patients. Long-term chronic pain could be associated with brain imbalance in circuits of pain matrix and is associated with poor quality of life (QoL) and mood disturbance. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was evaluating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on pain, QoL, depression, anxiety and affectivity in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). METHODS This double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial included 30 patients with chronic pain undergoing HD. Participants were allocated to Active tDCS and Sham tDCS and received ten non-consecutive sessions of anodal motor cortex stimulation (M1/Sp2 montage) at 2 mA intensity for 20 min. The primary outcome was pain assessed using numeric rating scale (NRS) and collected at baseline, immediately after the 10th day of intervention, one week, two weeks, and four weeks after the last stimulation. Secondary outcomes included QoL, depression, anxiety and affectivity collected before and after intervention. RESULTS A mixed ANOVA model showed significant interaction between group and time on pain F(4.112) = 3.106, P = 0.01 with main effects of group (P = 0.03). Before and after intervention, a significant improvement was observed in QoL (P = 0.009), general health (P = 0.03), fatigue (P = 0.05), symptoms (P = 0.05) depression (P = 0.01) and anxiety (P = 0.01). No difference was found for affectivity. CONCLUSION Anodal tDCS over the motor cortex emerges as a potential therapeutic approach for improving pain, QoL, and mood in patients with ESRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Quintiliano
- Department of Medicine (A.Q., T.Q.), Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; Department of Medicine (Nephrology) (G.M.K.), Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marom Bikson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (M.B.), The City College of The City University of New York, New York, USA
| | - Tayanne Oehmen
- Department of Medicine (A.Q., T.Q.), Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Pegado
- Graduate Program in Heath Science (R.P.), Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
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Schmaußer M, Hoffmann S, Raab M, Laborde S. The effects of noninvasive brain stimulation on heart rate and heart rate variability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:1664-1694. [PMID: 35582757 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation are widely used to test the involvement of specific cortical regions in various domains such as cognition and emotion. Despite the capability of stimulation techniques to test causal directions, this approach has been only sparsely used to examine the cortical regulation of autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions such as heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) and to test current models in this regard. In this preregistered (PROSPERO) systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to investigate, based on meta-regression, whether NIBS represents an effective method for modulating HR and HRV measures, and to evaluate whether the ANS is modulated by cortical mechanisms affected by NIBS. Here we have adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. In a series of four meta-analyses, a total of 131 effect sizes from 35 sham-controlled trials were analyzed using robust variance estimation random-effects meta-regression technique. NIBS was found to effectively modulate HR and HRV with small to medium effect sizes. Moderator analyses yielded significant differences in effects between stimulation of distinct cortical areas. Our results show that NIBS is a promising tool to investigate the cortical regulation of ANS, which may add to the existing brain imaging and animal study literature. Future research is needed to identify further factors modulating the size of effects. As many of the studies reviewed were found to be at high risk of bias, we recommend that methods to reduce potential risk of bias be used in the design and conduct of future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sven Hoffmann
- Institute of Psychology, University of Hagen, Hagen, Germany
| | - Markus Raab
- Institute of Psychology, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.,School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK
| | - Sylvain Laborde
- Institute of Psychology, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.,UFR STAPS, EA 4260, Université de Caen Normandie, Caen, France
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Antal A, Luber B, Brem AK, Bikson M, Brunoni AR, Cohen Kadosh R, Dubljević V, Fecteau S, Ferreri F, Flöel A, Hallett M, Hamilton RH, Herrmann CS, Lavidor M, Loo C, Lustenberger C, Machado S, Miniussi C, Moliadze V, Nitsche MA, Rossi S, Rossini PM, Santarnecchi E, Seeck M, Thut G, Turi Z, Ugawa Y, Venkatasubramanian G, Wenderoth N, Wexler A, Ziemann U, Paulus W. Non-invasive brain stimulation and neuroenhancement. Clin Neurophysiol Pract 2022; 7:146-165. [PMID: 35734582 PMCID: PMC9207555 DOI: 10.1016/j.cnp.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The available data frame with a wide parameter space of tES does not allow an overarching protocol recommendation. Established engineering risk-management procedures with regard to manufacturing should be followed. Consensus among experts is that tES for neuroenhancement is safe as long as tested protocols are followed.
Attempts to enhance human memory and learning ability have a long tradition in science. This topic has recently gained substantial attention because of the increasing percentage of older individuals worldwide and the predicted rise of age-associated cognitive decline in brain functions. Transcranial brain stimulation methods, such as transcranial magnetic (TMS) and transcranial electric (tES) stimulation, have been extensively used in an effort to improve cognitive functions in humans. Here we summarize the available data on low-intensity tES for this purpose, in comparison to repetitive TMS and some pharmacological agents, such as caffeine and nicotine. There is no single area in the brain stimulation field in which only positive outcomes have been reported. For self-directed tES devices, how to restrict variability with regard to efficacy is an essential aspect of device design and function. As with any technique, reproducible outcomes depend on the equipment and how well this is matched to the experience and skill of the operator. For self-administered non-invasive brain stimulation, this requires device designs that rigorously incorporate human operator factors. The wide parameter space of non-invasive brain stimulation, including dose (e.g., duration, intensity (current density), number of repetitions), inclusion/exclusion (e.g., subject’s age), and homeostatic effects, administration of tasks before and during stimulation, and, most importantly, placebo or nocebo effects, have to be taken into account. The outcomes of stimulation are expected to depend on these parameters and should be strictly controlled. The consensus among experts is that low-intensity tES is safe as long as tested and accepted protocols (including, for example, dose, inclusion/exclusion) are followed and devices are used which follow established engineering risk-management procedures. Devices and protocols that allow stimulation outside these parameters cannot claim to be “safe” where they are applying stimulation beyond that examined in published studies that also investigated potential side effects. Brain stimulation devices marketed for consumer use are distinct from medical devices because they do not make medical claims and are therefore not necessarily subject to the same level of regulation as medical devices (i.e., by government agencies tasked with regulating medical devices). Manufacturers must follow ethical and best practices in marketing tES stimulators, including not misleading users by referencing effects from human trials using devices and protocols not similar to theirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Antal
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Corresponding author at: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Robert Koch Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Bruce Luber
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anna-Katharine Brem
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marom Bikson
- Biomedical Engineering at the City College of New York (CCNY) of the City University of New York (CUNY), NY, USA
| | - Andre R. Brunoni
- Departamento de Clínica Médica e de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation (SIN), Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roi Cohen Kadosh
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Veljko Dubljević
- Science, Technology and Society Program, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Shirley Fecteau
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Centre intégré universitaire en santé et services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Florinda Ferreri
- Unit of Neurology, Unit of Clinical Neurophysiology, Study Center of Neurodegeneration (CESNE), Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Kuopio University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Agnes Flöel
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Standort Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Mark Hallett
- Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Roy H. Hamilton
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christoph S. Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Michal Lavidor
- Department of Psychology and the Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Israel
| | - Collen Loo
- School of Psychiatry and Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales; The George Institute; Sydney, Australia
| | - Caroline Lustenberger
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Machado
- Department of Sports Methods and Techniques, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
- Laboratory of Physical Activity Neuroscience, Neurodiversity Institute, Queimados-RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlo Miniussi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences – CIMeC and Centre for Medical Sciences - CISMed, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Vera Moliadze
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU, Dortmund, Germany
- Dept. Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Simone Rossi
- Siena Brain Investigation and Neuromodulation Lab (Si-BIN Lab), Unit of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Paolo M. Rossini
- Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Brain Connectivity Lab, IRCCS-San Raffaele-Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Emiliano Santarnecchi
- Precision Neuroscience and Neuromodulation Program, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margitta Seeck
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Switzerland
| | - Gregor Thut
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, EEG & Epolepsy Unit, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Zsolt Turi
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Human Neurophysiology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | | | - Nicole Wenderoth
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Future Health Technologies, Singapore-ETH Centre, Campus for Research Excellence And Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore
| | - Anna Wexler
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ulf Ziemann
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, University of Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Walter Paulus
- Department of of Neurology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Germany
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10
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Ministro G, Castaño JB, Barboza CA, Moura EG, Ferreira-Melo SE, Mostarda CT, Fattori A, Moreno-Junior H, Rodrigues B. ACUTE TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION (tDCS) IMPROVES VENTILATORY VARIABILITY AND AUTONOMIC MODULATION IN RESISTANT HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2021; 297:103830. [PMID: 34915178 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2021.103830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Here, we assessed the impact of one session of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or SHAM (20 min, each) on ventilatory responses to cardiopulmonary exercise test, central and peripheral blood pressure (BP), and autonomic modulation in resistant hypertensive (RHT) patients. RHT subjects (n = 13) were randomly submitted to SHAM and tDCS crossing sessions (1 week of "washout"). Patients and a technician who set the tDCS/Sham room up were both blind. After brain stimulation, patients were submitted to a cardiopulmonary exercise test to evaluate ventilatory and cardiovascular response to exercise. Hemodynamic (Finometer®, Beatscope), and autonomic variables were measured at baseline (before tDCS/Sham) and after incremental exercise. RESULTS: Our study shows that tDCS condition improved heart rate recovery, VO2 peak, and vagal modulation (after cardiopulmonary exercise test); attenuated the ventilatory variability response, central and peripheral blood pressure well as sympathetic modulation (after cardiopulmonary exercise test) in comparison with SHAM. These data suggest that acute tDCS sessions prevented oscillatory ventilation behavior during the cardiopulmonary exercise test and mitigated the increase of systolic blood pressure in RHT patients. After the exercise test, tDCS promotes better vagal reentry and improved autonomic modulation, possibly reducing central blood pressure and aortic augmentation index compared to SHAM. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC): https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-8n7c9p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Ministro
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Investigation & Exercise, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Javier B Castaño
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Investigation & Exercise, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Catarina A Barboza
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Investigation & Exercise, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliezer G Moura
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Investigation & Exercise, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvia E Ferreira-Melo
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Hypertension, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | - André Fattori
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Heitor Moreno-Junior
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Hypertension, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Investigation & Exercise, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil; Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Hypertension, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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11
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Rodrigues B, Barboza CA, Moura EG, Ministro G, Ferreira-Melo SE, Castaño JB, Ruberti OM, De Amorim RFB, Moreno H. Transcranial direct current stimulation modulates autonomic nervous system and reduces ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensives. Clin Exp Hypertens 2021; 43:320-327. [PMID: 33423544 DOI: 10.1080/10641963.2021.1871916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) seems to positively modulate the autonomic nervous system in different clinical conditions and healthy subjects; however, its effects on hypertensive (HTN) patients are not completely known. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a tDCS or SHAM session (20 min) on blood pressure (BP) and autonomic variables of HTN patients.Materials and Methods: Subjects (n = 13) were randomly submitted to SHAM and tDCS sessions (1 week of washout). Hemodynamic and autonomic variables were measured at baseline, during, and immediately after tDCS or SHAM stimulation (Finometer®, Beatscope). Ambulatory BP measurement (ABPM) was evaluated after the experimental period.Results: Hemodynamic variables were not changed by tDCS, except for the fall in peripheral vascular resistance (Δ = -1696.51 ± 204.65 dyn.s/cm5). After the tDCS, sympathetic modulation was decreased (-61.47%), and vagal modulation was increased (+38.09%). Such acute autonomic changes may have evoked positive results observed in 24 hs-systolic blood pressure (Δ = -8.4 ± 6.2; P = .0022) and 24hs-diastolic blood pressure (Δ = -5.4 ± 4.2; P = .0010) in tDCS subjects compared with that in SHAM.Conclusion: These findings suggest that the tDCS could promote positive acute adjustments on cardiac autonomic control and reduced values on 24-hs BP of HTN patients. More than a proof-of-concept, these results may point out to the future, where brain stimulation (tDCS) can be used to HTN syndromes, such as refractory HTN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Rodrigues
- School of Physical Education, Department of Adapted Physical Activity, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Hypertension, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Catarina A Barboza
- School of Physical Education, Department of Adapted Physical Activity, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Hypertension, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliezer G Moura
- School of Physical Education, Department of Adapted Physical Activity, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Hypertension, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Ministro
- School of Physical Education, Department of Adapted Physical Activity, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Hypertension, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvia E Ferreira-Melo
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Hypertension, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Javier B Castaño
- School of Physical Education, Department of Adapted Physical Activity, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Hypertension, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Olivia M Ruberti
- Laboratory of Vascular Biology, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Heitor Moreno
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Hypertension, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
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12
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Mascaro JS, Florian MP, Ash MJ, Palmer PK, Frazier T, Condon P, Raison C. Ways of Knowing Compassion: How Do We Come to Know, Understand, and Measure Compassion When We See It? Front Psychol 2020; 11:547241. [PMID: 33132956 PMCID: PMC7561712 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.547241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, empirical research on compassion has burgeoned in the biomedical, clinical, translational, and foundational sciences. Increasingly sophisticated understandings and measures of compassion continue to emerge from the abundance of multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary studies. Naturally, the diversity of research methods and theoretical frameworks employed presents a significant challenge to consensus and synthesis of this knowledge. To bring the empirical findings of separate and sometimes siloed disciplines into conversation with one another requires an examination of their disparate assumptions about what compassion is and how it can be known. Here, we present an integrated theoretical review of methodologies used in the empirical study of compassion. Our goal is to highlight the distinguishing features of each of these ways of knowing compassion, as well as the strengths and limitations of applying them to specific research questions. We hope this will provide useful tools for selecting methods that are tailored to explicit objectives (methods matching), taking advantage of methodological complementarity across disciplines (methods mixing), and incorporating the empirical study of compassion into fields in which it may be missing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S. Mascaro
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Marcia J. Ash
- Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Patricia K. Palmer
- Department of Spiritual Health, Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Tyralynn Frazier
- Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Paul Condon
- Department of Psychology, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR, United States
| | - Charles Raison
- School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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13
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Castelo-Branco L, Fregni F. Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to Prevent and Treat Symptoms Related to Stress: A Potential Tool to Remediate the Behavioral Consequences of the COVID-19 Isolation Measures? Front Integr Neurosci 2020; 14:46. [PMID: 33071764 PMCID: PMC7530274 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2020.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Castelo-Branco
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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14
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The compassionate vagus: A meta-analysis on the connection between compassion and heart rate variability. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 116:21-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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15
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Dias IA, Hazime FA, Lopes DA, Silva CSD, Baptista AF, Silva BAKD. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on heart rate variability: a systematic review protocol. JBI Evid Synth 2020; 18:1313-1319. [PMID: 32813380 DOI: 10.11124/jbisrir-d-19-00134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to synthesize the available evidence on the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on heart rate modulation, indexed by heart rate variability parameters in healthy individuals and those with clinical disorders. INTRODUCTION There is some evidence that altered heart rate variability parameters are associated with different clinical disorders. For example, diminished parasympathetic activity has been explored as a potential biomarker for some chronic pain conditions. Considering the dynamic interaction between brain and heart, neuromodulatory strategies targeting this relationship could exert a positive influence on the cardiac autonomic system. Transcranial direct current stimulation is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that has been presenting recent advances in the treatment of various clinical disorders. However, the evidence concerning transcranial direct current stimulation application focusing on brain-heart interaction is still controversial. INCLUSION CRITERIA This review will consider studies that investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on heart rate variability in healthy participants or those with clinical disorders. METHODS This review will follow JBI systematic review methodology recommendations. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycNET, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL) and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) will be searched, along with several sources of gray literature. Retrieval of full-text studies, and assessment of methodological quality and data extraction, will be performed independently by two reviewers. Data will be pooled in statistical meta-analysis, where possible. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO CRD42018114105.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Alves Dias
- 1Biomedical Master Science Program, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Brazil 2Center for Mathematics, Computation and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
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16
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Ottaviani C, Zingaretti P, Petta AM, Antonucci G, Thayer JF, Spitoni GF. Resting Heart Rate Variability Predicts Inhibitory Control Above and Beyond Impulsivity. J PSYCHOPHYSIOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1027/0269-8803/a000222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. Heart rate variability (HRV) has been linked to effective functioning of prefrontal-subcortical inhibitory circuits. Despite the recognized role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in executive functions linked to inhibitory capacity, studies linking HRV to executive functions are inconsistent, likely due to potential confounders. The present study sought to examine this relation in a sample of 50 healthy participants (31 females; Mage = 24.2 years) who underwent assessment of resting HRV and two executive tasks assessing inhibitory control, namely the Rule Shift Cards and the Hayling Sentence Completion Test. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that HRV predicted performance on both tasks (i.e., time taken to inhibit a strongly activated response) above and beyond the role of sex, body mass index, and impulsivity. Present results disconfirm that the HRV-executive function association is only due to confounders, and corroborate such relationship with the use of two ecological tasks assessing inhibitory control. Current findings support the Neurovisceral Integration Model and provide plausible explanation for previous inconsistent results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Ottaviani
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Zingaretti
- PhD Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | | | - Gabriella Antonucci
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Julian F. Thayer
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Grazia Fernanda Spitoni
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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17
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Sagliano L, Magliacano A, Parazzini M, Fiocchi S, Trojano L, Grossi D. Modulating interoception by insula stimulation: A double-blinded tDCS study. Neurosci Lett 2019; 696:108-113. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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18
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Ottaviani C, Mancini F, Provenzano S, Collazzoni A, D'Olimpio F. Deontological morality can be experimentally enhanced by increasing disgust: A transcranial direct current stimulation study. Neuropsychologia 2018; 119:474-481. [PMID: 30244001 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies empirically support the existence of a distinctive association between deontological (but not altruistic) guilt and both disgust and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. Given that the neural substrate underlying deontological guilt comprises brain regions strictly implicated in the emotion of disgust (i.e. the insula), the present study aimed to test the hypothesis that indirect stimulation of the insula via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) would enhance disgust and morality in the deontological domain. A randomized, sham-controlled, within-subject design was used. Thirty-seven healthy individuals (25 women) underwent 15-min anodal and sham tDCS over T3 in two different days, while their heart rate (HR) was recorded to derive measures of parasympathetic nervous system activity (HR variability; HRV). After the first 10-min of sham or active tDCS stimulation, participants were asked to 1) complete a series of 6-item words that could be completed with either a disgust-related word (cleaning/dirtiness) or neutral alternatives; 2) rate how much a series of vignettes, each depicting a behavior that violated a specific moral foundation, were morally wrong. Levels of trait anxiety, depression, disgust sensitivity, scrupulosity, and altruism as well as pre- and post- stimulation momentary emotional states were assessed. Compared to the sham condition, after active stimulation of T3 a) HRV significantly increased and participants b) completed more words in terms of cleaning/dirtiness and c) reported greater subjective levels of disgust, all suggesting the elicitation of the emotion of disgust. Although the results are only marginally significant, they point to the absence of difference between the two experimental conditions for moral vignettes in the altruistic domain (i.e., animal care, emotional and physical human care), but not in the deontological domain (i.e., authority, fairness, liberty, and sacrality), where vignettes were judged as more morally wrong in the active compared to the sham condition. Moreover, scores on the OCI-R correlated with how much vignettes were evaluated as morally wrong in the deontological domain only. Results preliminarily support the association between disgust and morality in the deontological domain, with important implications for OC disorder (OCD). Future studies should explore the possibility of decreasing both disgust and morality in patients with OCD by the use of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Ottaviani
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Mancini
- Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva S.r.l., Rome, Italy; Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy.
| | | | | | - Francesca D'Olimpio
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
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19
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Carnevali L, Koenig J, Sgoifo A, Ottaviani C. Autonomic and Brain Morphological Predictors of Stress Resilience. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:228. [PMID: 29681793 PMCID: PMC5897537 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Stressful life events are an important cause of psychopathology. Humans exposed to aversive or stressful experiences show considerable inter-individual heterogeneity in their responses. However, the majority does not develop stress-related psychiatric disorders. The dynamic processes encompassing positive and functional adaptation in the face of significant adversity have been broadly defined as resilience. Traditionally, the assessment of resilience has been confined to self-report measures, both within the general community and putative high-risk populations. Although this approach has value, it is highly susceptible to subjective bias and may not capture the dynamic nature of resilience, as underlying construct. Recognizing the obvious benefits of more objective measures of resilience, research in the field has just started investigating the predictive value of several potential biological markers. This review provides an overview of theoretical views and empirical evidence suggesting that individual differences in heart rate variability (HRV), a surrogate index of resting cardiac vagal outflow, may underlie different levels of resilience toward the development of stress-related psychiatric disorders. Following this line of thought, recent studies describing associations between regional brain morphometric characteristics and resting state vagally-mediated HRV are summarized. Existing studies suggest that the structural morphology of the anterior cingulated cortex (ACC), particularly its cortical thickness, is implicated in the expression of individual differences in HRV. These findings are discussed in light of emerging structural neuroimaging research, linking morphological characteristics of the ACC to psychological traits ascribed to a high-resilient profile and abnormal structural integrity of the ACC to the psychophysiological expression of stress-related mental health consequences. We conclude that a multidisciplinary approach integrating brain structural imaging with HRV monitoring could offer novel perspectives about brain-body pathways in resilience and adaptation to psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Carnevali
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Stress Physiology Lab, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Julian Koenig
- Section for Translational Psychobiology in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Sgoifo
- Stress Physiology Lab, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Cristina Ottaviani
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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20
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Ottaviani C. Brain-heart interaction in perseverative cognition. Psychophysiology 2018; 55:e13082. [PMID: 29607505 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The move from the concept of homeostasis to that of allostasis has led reactivity stress research to widen the object of its investigation: from the brief physiological response that occurs when one is facing a stressor to what happens when one is anticipating or recovering from a stressor. A paradigmatic example is represented by perseverative cognition, during which human beings react "as if" they were constantly facing a concrete stressor. The core idea behind this review is that the cognitive inflexibility that characterizes perseverative cognition is reflected in both our body (by increased autonomic nervous system rigidity assessed by heart rate variability; HRV) and our brain (by reduced prefrontal-amygdala functional connectivity). This is a review of studies conducted in different settings (laboratory, daily life), populations (healthy, major depression, generalized anxiety), location (United States, Europe), and age groups (children, adults) that consistently replicated the association between autonomic, subjective, and behavioral measures of cognitive inflexibility during perseverative cognition. Moreover, compelling neuroimaging data suggest that HRV reduction from pre- to post-induction of perseverative cognition is associated with both structural and functional brain abnormalities reflecting impaired prefrontal inhibitory control over subcortical structures (e.g., diminished prefrontal-amygdala functional connectivity). The integration of neuroscience techniques with clinical autonomic research has advanced our understanding of the neurobiology of brain-heart interaction during perseverative cognition, potentially yielding to more effective treatment packages. This is clinically relevant if one considers that perseverative cognition is a pervasive transdiagnostic factor that carries prognostic risk for both psychological and somatic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Ottaviani
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Neuroimaging Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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Duarte J, Pinto-Gouveia J. Positive affect and parasympathetic activity: Evidence for a quadratic relationship between feeling safe and content and heart rate variability. Psychiatry Res 2017; 257:284-289. [PMID: 28783577 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED There has been an increased interest in the study of underlying autonomic correlates of emotions. This study tests the hypothesis that high levels of high-frequency heart rate variability (HF HRV) are associated with positive emotions. In addition, we hypothesize that this association will differ according to the type of positive emotion. Also, based on recent findings, we tested the hypothesis that this relationship would be nonlinear. Resting-state HRV was collected and self-report measures of different positive emotions were administered to a sample of 124 volunteers. RESULTS Results suggested that there was a quadratic relationship between high-frequency heart rate variability and positive emotions associated with safeness and contentment, but not with positive emotions associated with excitement or lack of arousal. Our data suggests that different positive emotions may be characterized by qualitatively distinct profiles of autonomic activation. Also, given the role of positive emotions in social affiliation, and particularly positive emotions associated with a quiescence motivational state, results are interpreted in light of theoretical accounts that highlight the importance of vagal regulation for social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Duarte
- Cognitive-Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - José Pinto-Gouveia
- Cognitive-Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Portugal
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Nikolin S, Boonstra TW, Loo CK, Martin D. Combined effect of prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation and a working memory task on heart rate variability. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181833. [PMID: 28771509 PMCID: PMC5542548 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Prefrontal cortex activity has been associated with changes to heart rate variability (HRV) via mediation of the cortico-subcortical pathways that regulate the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system. Changes in HRV due to altered prefrontal cortex functioning can be predicted using the neurovisceral integration model, which suggests that prefrontal hyperactivity increases parasympathetic tone and decreases contributions from the sympathetic nervous system. Working memory (WM) tasks and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been used independently to modulate brain activity demonstrating changes to HRV in agreement with the model. We investigated the combined effects of prefrontal tDCS and a WM task on HRV. Bifrontal tDCS was administered for 15 minutes at 2mA to 20 participants in a sham controlled, single-blind study using parallel groups. A WM task was completed by participants at three time points; pre-, during-, and post-tDCS, with resting state data collected at similar times. Frequency-domain HRV was computed for high frequency (HF; 0.15-0.4Hz) and low frequency (LF; 0.04-0.15Hz) power reflecting parasympathetic and sympathetic branch activity, respectively. Response time on the WM task, but not accuracy, improved from baseline to during-tDCS and post-tDCS with sham, but not active, stimulation. HF-HRV was significantly increased in the active tDCS group compared to sham, lasting beyond cessation of stimulation. Additionally, HF-HRV showed a task-related reduction in power during performance on the WM task. Changes in LF-HRV were moderately inversely correlated (r > 0.4) with changes in WM accuracy during and following tDCS compared to baseline levels. Stimulation of the prefrontal cortex resulted in changes to the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system in agreement with a linearly additive interpretation of effects. Sympathetic activity was not directly altered by tDCS, but was correlated with changes in WM performance. This suggests that the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches respond differentially due to similar, but distinct neural pathways. Given the ease of HRV data collection, studies of prefrontal tDCS would benefit from collection of this data as it provides unique insight into tDCS effects resulting from propagation through brain networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stevan Nikolin
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tjeerd W. Boonstra
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
- Systems Neuroscience Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Colleen K. Loo
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
- St. George Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Donel Martin
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Kirby JN, Doty JR, Petrocchi N, Gilbert P. The Current and Future Role of Heart Rate Variability for Assessing and Training Compassion. Front Public Health 2017; 5:40. [PMID: 28337432 PMCID: PMC5340770 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2017.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of mammalian caregiving involving hormones, such as oxytocin, vasopressin, and the myelinated vagal nerve as part of the ventral parasympathetic system, enables humans to connect, co-regulate each other’s emotions and create prosociality. Compassion-based interventions draw upon a number of specific exercises and strategies to stimulate these physiological processes and create conditions of “interpersonal safeness,” thereby helping people engage with, alleviate, and prevent suffering. Hence, compassion-based approaches are connected with our evolved caring motivation and attachment and our general affiliative systems that help regulate distress. Physiologically, they are connected to activity of the vagus nerve and corresponding adaptive heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is an important physiological marker for overall health, and the body–mind connection. Therefore, there is significant value of training compassion to increase HRV and training HRV to facilitate compassion. Despite the significance of compassion in alleviating and preventing suffering, there remain difficulties in its precise assessment. HRV offers a useful form of measurement to assess and train compassion. Specific examples of what exercises can facilitate HRV and how to measure HRV will be described. This paper argues that the field of compassion science needs to move toward including HRV as a primary outcome measure in its future assessment and training, due to its connection to vagal regulatory activity, and its link to overall health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- James N Kirby
- The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA; School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - James R Doty
- The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, Stanford University , Palo Alto, CA , USA
| | | | - Paul Gilbert
- Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby , Derby , UK
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