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Leow LA, Jiang J, Bowers S, Zhang Y, Dux PE, Filmer HL. Intensity-dependent effects of tDCS on motor learning are related to dopamine. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:553-560. [PMID: 38604563 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), are popular methods for inducing neuroplastic changes to alter cognition and behaviour. One challenge for the field is to optimise stimulation protocols to maximise benefits. For this to happen, we need a better understanding of how stimulation modulates cortical functioning/behaviour. To date, there is increasing evidence for a dose-response relationship between tDCS and brain excitability, however how this relates to behaviour is not well understood. Even less is known about the neurochemical mechanisms which may drive the dose-response relationship between stimulation intensities and behaviour. Here, we examine the effect of three different tDCS stimulation intensities (1 mA, 2 mA, 4 mA anodal motor cortex tDCS) administered during the explicit learning of motor sequences. Further, to assess the role of dopamine in the dose-response relationship between tDCS intensities and behaviour, we examined how pharmacologically increasing dopamine availability, via 100 mg of levodopa, modulated the effect of stimulation on learning. In the absence of levodopa, we found that 4 mA tDCS improved and 1 mA tDCS impaired acquisition of motor sequences relative to sham stimulation. Conversely, levodopa reversed the beneficial effect of 4 mA tDCS. This effect of levodopa was no longer evident at the 48-h follow-up, consistent with previous work characterising the persistence of neuroplastic changes in the motor cortex resulting from combining levodopa with tDCS. These results provide the first direct evidence for a role of dopamine in the intensity-dependent effects of tDCS on behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ann Leow
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia; Edith Cowan University, St Lucia, Australia.
| | - Jiaqin Jiang
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Samantha Bowers
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Yuhan Zhang
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Paul E Dux
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Hannah L Filmer
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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2
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Battisti A, Lazzaro G, Varuzza C, Vicari S, Menghini D. Effects of online tDCS and hf-tRNS on reading performance in children and adolescents with developmental dyslexia: a study protocol for a cross sectional, within-subject, randomized, double-blind, and sham-controlled trial. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1338430. [PMID: 38533416 PMCID: PMC10964771 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1338430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Developmental Dyslexia (DD) is a brain-based developmental disorder causing severe reading difficulties. The extensive data on the neurobiology of DD have increased interest in brain-directed approaches, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which have been proposed for DD. While positive outcomes have been observed, results remain heterogeneous. Various methodological approaches have been employed to address this issue. However, no studies have compared the effects of different transcranial electrical stimulation techniques (e.g., tDCS and transcranial random noise stimulation, tRNS), on reading in children and adolescents with DD. Methods The present within-subject, double-blind, and sham-controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of tDCS and hf-tRNS on reading in children and adolescents with DD. Participants will undergo three conditions with a one-week interval session: (A) single active tDCS session; (B) single active hf-tRNS session; and (C) single sham session (tDCS/hf-tRNS). Left anodal/right cathodal tDCS and bilateral tRNS will be applied over the temporo-parietal regions for 20 min each. Reading measures will be collected before and during each session. Safety and blinding parameters will be recordered. Discussion We hypothesize that tRNS will demonstrate comparable effectiveness to tDCS in improving reading compared to sham conditions. Additionally, we anticipate that hf-tRNS will exhibit a similar safety profile to tDCS. This study will contribute novel insights into the effectiveness of hf-tRNS, expediting the validation of brain-based treatments for DD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Battisti
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Lazzaro
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiana Varuzza
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Deny Menghini
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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3
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Melo L, Beaupain MC, Ghanavati E, Kuo MF, Nitsche MA. Neurochemical mechanisms underlying serotonergic modulation of neuroplasticity in humans. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:421-430. [PMID: 38574852 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies in animals and humans have shown that cortical neuroplasticity can be modulated by increasing serotonin levels by administering selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). However, little is known about the mechanistic background, especially the contribution of intracortical inhibition and facilitation, which depend on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate. OBJECTIVE We aimed to explore the relevance of drivers of plasticity (glutamate- and GABA-dependent processes) for the effects of serotonin enhancement on tDCS-induced plasticity in healthy humans. METHODS A crossover, partially double-blinded, randomized, and sham-controlled study was conducted in 21 healthy right-handed individuals. In each of the 7 sessions, plasticity was induced via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Anodal, cathodal, and sham tDCS were applied to the left motor cortex under SSRI (20 mg/40 mg citalopram) or placebo. Short-interval cortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) were monitored by paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation for 5-6 h after intervention. RESULTS Under placebo, anodal tDCS-induced LTP-like plasticity decreased SICI and increased ICF. In contrast, cathodal tDCS-elicited LTD-like plasticity induced the opposite effect. Under 20 mg and 40 mg citalopram, anodal tDCS did not affect SICI largely, while ICF was enhanced and prolonged. For cathodal tDCS, citalopram converted the increase of SICI and decrease of ICF into antagonistic effects, and this effect was dosage-dependent since it lasted longer under 40 mg when compared to 20 mg. CONCLUSION We speculate that the main effects of acute serotonergic enhancement on tDCS-induced plasticity, the increase and prolongation of LTP-like plasticity effects, involves mainly the glutamatergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Melo
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Marie C Beaupain
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany; Department of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Elham Ghanavati
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany; Department of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Min-Fang Kuo
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), 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, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site - Bochum/Marburg, Germany
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4
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Sehatpour P, Kreither J, Lopez-Calderon J, Shastry AM, De Baun HM, Martinez A, Javitt DC. Network-level mechanisms underlying effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on visuomotor learning in schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:360. [PMID: 37993420 PMCID: PMC10665365 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02656-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor learning is a fundamental skill to our daily lives. Dysfunction in motor performance in schizophrenia (Sz) has been associated with poor social and functional outcomes. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive electrical brain stimulation approach, can influence underlying brain function with potential for improving motor learning in Sz. We used a well-established Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT) to study motor learning, in combination with simultaneous tDCS and EEG recording, to investigate mechanisms of motor and procedural learning deficits in Sz, and to develop refined non-invasive brain stimulation approaches to improve neurocognitive dysfunction. We recruited 27 individuals with Sz and 21 healthy controls (HC). Individuals performed the SRTT task as they received sham and active tDCS with simultaneous EEG recording. Reaction time (RT), neuropsychological, and measures of global functioning were assessed. SRTT performance was significantly impaired in Sz and showed significant correlations with motor-related and working memory measures as well as global function. Source-space time-frequency decomposition of EEG showed beta-band coherence across supplementary-motor, primary-motor and visual cortex forming a network involved in SRTT performance. Motor-cathodal and visual-cathodal stimulations resulted in significant modulation in coherence particularly across the motor-visual nodes of the network accompanied by significant improvement in motor learning in both controls and patients. Here, we confirm earlier reports of SRTT impairment in Sz and demonstrate significant reversal of the deficits with tDCS. The findings support continued development of tDCS for enhancement of plasticity-based interventions in Sz, as well as source-space EEG analytic approaches for evaluating underlying neural mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pejman Sehatpour
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Schizophrenia Research Division, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA.
| | - Johanna Kreither
- PIA Ciencias Cognitivas, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Cognitivas, Facultad de Psicología, and Laboratorio de Neurofisiología, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | | | - Adithya M Shastry
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Heloise M De Baun
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Antigona Martinez
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Schizophrenia Research Division, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Daniel C Javitt
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Schizophrenia Research Division, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA.
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5
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Leow LA, Marcos A, Nielsen E, Sewell D, Ballard T, Dux PE, Filmer HL. Dopamine Alters the Effect of Brain Stimulation on Decision-Making. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6909-6919. [PMID: 37648451 PMCID: PMC10573748 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1140-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), show promise in treating a range of psychiatric and neurologic conditions. However, optimization of such applications requires a better understanding of how tDCS alters cognition and behavior. Existing evidence implicates dopamine in tDCS alterations of brain activity and plasticity; however, there is as yet no causal evidence for a role of dopamine in tDCS effects on cognition and behavior. Here, in a preregistered, double-blinded study, we examined how pharmacologically manipulating dopamine altered the effect of tDCS on the speed-accuracy trade-off, which taps ubiquitous strategic operations. Cathodal tDCS was delivered over the left prefrontal cortex and the superior medial frontal cortex before participants (N = 62, 24 males, 38 females) completed a dot-motion task, making judgments on the direction of a field of moving dots under instructions to emphasize speed, accuracy, or both. We leveraged computational modeling to uncover how our interventions altered latent decisional processes driving the speed-accuracy trade-off. We show that dopamine in combination with tDCS (but not tDCS alone nor dopamine alone) not only impaired decision accuracy but also impaired discriminability, which suggests that these manipulations altered the encoding or representation of discriminative evidence. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first direct evidence implicating dopamine in the way tDCS affects cognition and behavior.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT tDCS can improve cognitive and behavioral impairments in clinical conditions; however, a better understanding of its mechanisms is required to optimize future clinical applications. Here, using a pharmacological approach to manipulate brain dopamine levels in healthy adults, we demonstrate a role for dopamine in the effects of tDCS in the speed-accuracy trade-off, a strategic cognitive process ubiquitous in many contexts. In doing so, we provide direct evidence implicating dopamine in the way tDCS affects cognition and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ann Leow
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Anjeli Marcos
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Esteban Nielsen
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - David Sewell
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Timothy Ballard
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Paul E Dux
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Hannah L Filmer
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
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Lane HY, Wang SH, Lin CH. Adjunctive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) plus sodium benzoate for the treatment of early-phase Alzheimer's disease: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Psychiatry Res 2023; 328:115461. [PMID: 37729717 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115461] [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: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies found that an NMDA receptor (NMDAR) enhancer, sodium benzoate, improved cognitive function of patients with early-phase Alzheimer's disease (AD). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) induces NMDAR-dependent synaptic plasticity and strengthens cognitive function of AD patients. This study aimed to evaluate efficacy and safety of tDCS plus benzoate in early-phase dementia. In this 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 97 patients with early-phase AD received 10-session tDCS during the first 2 weeks. They then took benzoate or placebo for 24 weeks. We assessed the patients using Alzheimer's disease assessment scale - cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog), Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change plus Caregiver Input, Mini Mental Status Examination, Alzheimer's disease Cooperative Study scale for ADL in MCI, and a battery of additional cognitive tests. Forty-seven patients received sodium benzoate, and the other 50 placebo. The two treatment groups didn't differ significantly in ADAS-cog or other measures. Addition of benzoate to tDCS didn't get extra benefit or side effect in this study. For more thoroughly studying the potential of combining tDCS with benzoate in the AD treatment, future research should use other study designs, such as longer-term benzoate treatment, adding benzoate in the middle of tDCS trial sessions, or administering benzoate then tDCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Yuan Lane
- Department of Psychiatry & Brain Disease Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shi-Heng Wang
- National Center for Geriatrics and Welfare Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Hsin Lin
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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7
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Torrecuso R, Mueller K, Holiga Š, Sieger T, Vymazal J, Ružička F, Roth J, Ružička E, Schroeter ML, Jech R, Möller HE. Improving fMRI in Parkinson's disease by accounting for brain region-specific activity patterns. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 38:103396. [PMID: 37037118 PMCID: PMC10120395 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103396] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
In functional magnetic imaging (fMRI) in Parkinson's disease (PD), a paradigm consisting of blocks of finger tapping and rest along with a corresponding general linear model (GLM) is often used to assess motor activity. However, this method has three limitations: (i) Due to the strong magnetic field and the confined environment of the cylindrical bore, it is troublesome to accurately monitor motor output and, therefore, variability in the performed movement is typically ignored. (ii) Given the loss of dopaminergic neurons and ongoing compensatory brain mechanisms, motor control is abnormal in PD. Therefore, modeling of patients' tapping with a constant amplitude (using a boxcar function) and the expected Parkinsonian motor output are prone to mismatch. (iii) The motor loop involves structures with distinct hemodynamic responses, for which only one type of modeling (e.g., modeling the whole block of finger tapping) may not suffice to capture these structure's temporal activation. The first two limitations call for considering results from online recordings of the real motor output that may lead to significant sensitivity improvements. This was shown in previous work using a non-magnetic glove to capture details of the patients' finger movements in a so-called kinematic approach. For the third limitation, modeling motion initiation instead of the whole tapping block has been suggested to account for different temporal activation signatures of the motor loop's structures. In the present study we propose improvements to the GLM as a tool to study motor disorders. For this, we test the robustness of the kinematic approach in an expanded cohort (n = 31), apply more conservative statistics than in previous work, and evaluate the benefits of an event-related model function. Our findings suggest that the integration of the kinematic approach offers a general improvement in detecting activations in subcortical structures, such as the basal ganglia. Additionally, modeling motion initiation using an event-related design yielded superior performance in capturing medication-related effects in the putamen. Our results may guide adaptations in analysis strategies for functional motor studies related to PD and also in more general applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renzo Torrecuso
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Karsten Mueller
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Neurology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Štefan Holiga
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tomáš Sieger
- Department of Neurology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Filip Ružička
- Department of Neurology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Roth
- Department of Neurology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Evzen Ružička
- Department of Neurology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Matthias L Schroeter
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, Leipzig University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Robert Jech
- Department of Neurology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Harald E Möller
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
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Javitt D, Sehatpour P, Kreither J, Lopez-Calderon J, Shastry A, De-Baun H, Martinez A. Network-level mechanisms underlying effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on visuomotor learning impairments in schizophrenia. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2711867. [PMID: 37066410 PMCID: PMC10104242 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2711867/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Motor learning is a fundamental skill to our daily lives. Dysfunction in motor performance in schizophrenia (Sz) is associated with poor social and functional outcomes, but nevertheless remains understudied relative to other neurocognitive domains. Moreover, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can influence underlying brain function in Sz and may be especially useful in enhancing local cortical plasticity, but underlying neural mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we evaluated performance of Sz individuals on the Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT), which has been extensively used in prior tDCS research, in combination with concurrent tDCS and EEG source localization first to evaluate the integrity of visuomotor learning in Sz relative to other cognitive domains and second to investigate underlying neural mechanisms. Twenty-seven individuals with Sz and 21 healthy controls (HC) performed the SRTT task as they received sham or active tDCS and simultaneous EEG recording. Measures of motor, neuropsychological and global functioning were also assessed. Impaired SRTT performance correlated significantly with deficits in motor performance, working memory, and global functioning. Time-frequency ("Beamformer") EEG source localization showed beta-band coherence across supplementary-motor, primary-motor and visual cortex regions, with reduced visuomotor coherence in Sz relative to HC. Cathodal tDCS targeting both visual and motor regions resulted in significant modulation in coherence particularly across the motor-visual nodes of the network accompanied by significant improvement in motor learning in both controls and patients. Overall, these findings demonstrate the utility of the SRTT to study mechanisms of visuomotor impairment in Sz and demonstrate significant tDCS effects on both learning and connectivity when applied over either visual or motor regions. The findings support continued study of dysfunctional dorsal-stream visual connectivity and motor plasticity as components of cognitive impairment in Sz, of local tDCS administration for enhancement of plasticity, and of source-space EEG-based biomarkers for evaluation of underlying neural mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Javitt
- Columbia University Medical Center/Nathan Kline Institute
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9
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Brancucci A, Rivolta D, Nitsche MA, Manippa V. The effects of transcranial random noise stimulation on motor function: A comprehensive review of the literature. Physiol Behav 2023; 261:114073. [PMID: 36608913 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114073] [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: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The present review considers all papers published on the topic up to the end of the year 2022. Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique introduced about 15 years ago whose use is becoming increasingly widespread in neuroscience. It consists of the application over the scalp of a weak, white noise-like current, through electrodes having a surface of several square centimetres, for a duration ranging from seconds to minutes. Despite its relatively low spatial and temporal resolution, tRNS has well defined effects on central motor excitability, which critically depend on stimulation parameters. These effects seem to be chiefly based on an effect on neuronal membrane sodium channels and can last much longer than the stimulation itself. While the effects at the cellular level in the motor cortex are becoming progressively clear, much more studies are needed to understand the effects of tRNS on motor behaviour and performance, where initial research results are nevertheless promising, in both basic and applied research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Brancucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie, Umane e della Salute, Università di Roma "Foro Italico", Italy.
| | - Davide Rivolta
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Formazione, Psicologia, Comunicazione, Università degli studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Italy
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre 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, Germany
| | - Valerio Manippa
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Formazione, Psicologia, Comunicazione, Università degli studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Italy; Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
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10
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D'Urso G, Toscano E, Barone A, Palermo M, Dell'Osso B, Di Lorenzo G, Mantovani A, Martinotti G, Fornaro M, Iasevoli F, de Bartolomeis A. Transcranial direct current stimulation for bipolar depression: systematic reviews of clinical evidence and biological underpinnings. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 121:110672. [PMID: 36332699 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Despite multiple available treatments for bipolar depression (BD), many patients face sub-optimal responses. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been advocated in the management of different conditions, including BD, especially in treatment-resistant cases. The optimal dose and timing of tDCS, the mutual influence with other concurrently administered interventions, long-term efficacy, overall safety, and biological underpinnings nonetheless deserve additional assessment. The present study appraised the existing clinical evidence about tDCS for bipolar depression, delving into the putative biological underpinnings with a special emphasis on cellular and molecular levels, with the ultimate goal of providing a translational perspective on the matter. Two separate systematic reviews across the PubMed database since inception up to August 8th 2022 were performed, with fourteen clinical and nineteen neurobiological eligible studies. The included clinical studies encompass 207 bipolar depression patients overall and consistently document the efficacy of tDCS, with a reduction in depression scores after treatment ranging from 18% to 92%. The RCT with the largest sample clearly showed a significant superiority of active stimulation over sham. Mild-to-moderate and transient adverse effects are attributed to tDCS across these studies. The review of neurobiological literature indicates that several molecular mechanisms may account for the antidepressant effect of tDCS in BD patients, including the action on calcium homeostasis in glial cells, the enhancement of LTP, the regulation of neurotrophic factors and inflammatory mediators, and the modulation of the expression of plasticity-related genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the matter to concurrently provide a synthesis of the clinical evidence and an in-depth appraisal of the putative biological underpinnings, providing consistent support for the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of tDCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giordano D'Urso
- Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Unit of Psychiatry and Psychology, Unit of Treatment Resistance in Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Clinical Department of Head and Neck, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Elena Toscano
- Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Unit of Psychiatry and Psychology, Unit of Treatment Resistance in Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Clinical Department of Head and Neck, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Annarita Barone
- Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Unit of Psychiatry and Psychology, Unit of Treatment Resistance in Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Clinical Department of Head and Neck, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Mario Palermo
- Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Unit of Psychiatry and Psychology, Unit of Treatment Resistance in Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Clinical Department of Head and Neck, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, Ospedale Luigi Sacco Polo Universitario, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Bipolar Disorders Clinic, Stanford University, CA, USA; CRC "Aldo Ravelli" for Neuro-technology & Experimental Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Di Lorenzo
- Laboratory of Psychophysiology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy; Psychiatric and Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Mantovani
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze della Salute "V. Tiberio" Università degli Studi del Molise, Campobasso, Italy; Dipartimento di Salute Mentale e delle Dipendenze, Azienda Sanitaria Regionale del Molise (ASReM), Campobasso, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, Clinical Sciences, University Gabriele d'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Italy; Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Clinical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Herts, UK
| | - Michele Fornaro
- Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Unit of Psychiatry and Psychology, Unit of Treatment Resistance in Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Clinical Department of Head and Neck, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Felice Iasevoli
- Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Unit of Psychiatry and Psychology, Unit of Treatment Resistance in Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Clinical Department of Head and Neck, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Unit of Psychiatry and Psychology, Unit of Treatment Resistance in Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Clinical Department of Head and Neck, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
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Genetic profile for dopamine signaling predicts brain functional reactivity to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:99-111. [PMID: 35951113 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-022-01436-2] [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: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Research integrating molecular and imaging data provides important insights into how the genetic profile associated with dopamine signaling influences inter-individual differences in brain functions. However, the effects of genetic variations in dopamine signaling on the heterogeneity of brain changes induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) still remain unclear. The current study examined the composite effects of genetic variations in dopamine-related genes on rTMS-induced brain responses in terms of the functional network connectivity and working memory performance. Healthy individuals (n = 30) participated in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study with a crossover design of five consecutive days where active rTMS or sham stimulation sessions were administered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of the brain. Participants were mostly women (n = 29) and genotyped for polymorphisms in the catechol-O-methyltransferase and D2 dopamine receptor genes and categorized according to their genetic composite scores: high vs. low dopamine signaling groups. Pre- and post-intervention data of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and working memory performance were obtained from 27 individuals with active rTMS and 30 with sham stimulation sessions. The mean functional connectivity within the resting-state networks centered on the DLPFC increased in the high dopamine signaling group. Working memory performance also improved with rTMS in the high dopamine signaling group compared to that in the low dopamine signaling group. The present results suggest that genetic predisposition to higher dopamine signaling may be a promising neurobiological predictor for rTMS effects on cognitive enhancement.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02932085).
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Salehinejad MA, Vosough Y, Nejati V. The Impact of Bilateral Anodal tDCS over Left and Right DLPFC on Executive Functions in Children with ADHD. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12081098. [PMID: 36009161 PMCID: PMC9406177 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12081098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is increasingly used for therapeutic purposes in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is the most targeted region of tDCS studies in ADHD. There is limited knowledge and mixed results about the relevance of left or right DLPFCs in ADHD’s cognitive deficits. No study so far has investigated the impact of the increased excitability of both left and right DLPFC with anodal tDCS on cognitive deficits in ADHD. Here, we explored the impact of online bilateral anodal left and right DLPFC tDCS on executive dysfunction in children with ADHD. Twenty-two children with ADHD (mean age ± SD =8.86 ± 1.80) received bilateral anodal online tDCS over the left and right DLPFC (1.5 mA, 15 min) in two separate sessions in active and sham states. They underwent a battery of four neuropsychological tasks of executive functions during stimulation that measured working memory, cognitive flexibility, response inhibition, and executive control. Bilateral anodal left and right DLPFC tDCS did not improve performance on working memory, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition. Executive control was, however, partially improved for those who received active tDCS first. The upregulation of bilateral DLPFC tDCS with anodal polarity does not improve executive dysfunction in children with ADHD. The unilateral modulation of DLPFC with anodal tDCS may be more beneficial to cognitive deficits in ADHD in light of previous works targeting only left and/or right DLPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ali Salehinejad
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Younes Vosough
- Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
| | - Vahid Nejati
- Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
- Correspondence:
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