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Review of tDCS Configurations for Stimulation of the Lower-Limb Area of Motor Cortex and Cerebellum. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12020248. [PMID: 35204011 PMCID: PMC8870282 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This article presents an exhaustive analysis of the works present in the literature pertaining to transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS) applications. The aim of this work is to analyze the specific characteristics of lower-limb stimulation, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of these works and framing them with the current knowledge of tDCS. The ultimate goal of this work is to propose areas of improvement to create more effective stimulation therapies with less variability.
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Molero-Chamizo A, Nitsche MA, Gutiérrez Lérida C, Salas Sánchez Á, Martín Riquel R, Andújar Barroso RT, Alameda Bailén JR, García Palomeque JC, Rivera-Urbina GN. Standard Non-Personalized Electric Field Modeling of Twenty Typical tDCS Electrode Configurations via the Computational Finite Element Method: Contributions and Limitations of Two Different Approaches. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1230. [PMID: 34943145 PMCID: PMC8698402 DOI: 10.3390/biology10121230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation procedure to modulate cortical excitability and related brain functions. tDCS can effectively alter multiple brain functions in healthy humans and is suggested as a therapeutic tool in several neurological and psychiatric diseases. However, variability of results is an important limitation of this method. This variability may be due to multiple factors, including age, head and brain anatomy (including skull, skin, CSF and meninges), cognitive reserve and baseline performance level, specific task demands, as well as comorbidities in clinical settings. Different electrode montages are a further source of variability between tDCS studies. A procedure to estimate the electric field generated by specific tDCS electrode configurations, which can be helpful to adapt stimulation protocols, is the computational finite element method. This approach is useful to provide a priori modeling of the current spread and electric field intensity that will be generated according to the implemented electrode montage. Here, we present standard, non-personalized model-based electric field simulations for motor, dorsolateral prefrontal, and posterior parietal cortex stimulation according to twenty typical tDCS electrode configurations using two different current flow modeling software packages. The resulting simulated maximum intensity of the electric field, focality, and current spread were similar, but not identical, between models. The advantages and limitations of both mathematical simulations of the electric field are presented and discussed systematically, including aspects that, at present, prevent more widespread application of respective simulation approaches in the field of non-invasive brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Molero-Chamizo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Psychology, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain; (Á.S.S.); (R.T.A.B.); (J.R.A.B.)
| | - Michael A. Nitsche
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, 44139 Dortmund, Germany;
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, 44789 Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Ángeles Salas Sánchez
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Psychology, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain; (Á.S.S.); (R.T.A.B.); (J.R.A.B.)
| | - Raquel Martín Riquel
- Department of Psychology, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain; (C.G.L.); (R.M.R.)
| | - Rafael Tomás Andújar Barroso
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Psychology, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain; (Á.S.S.); (R.T.A.B.); (J.R.A.B.)
| | - José Ramón Alameda Bailén
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Psychology, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain; (Á.S.S.); (R.T.A.B.); (J.R.A.B.)
| | - Jesús Carlos García Palomeque
- Histology Department, School of Medicine, Cadiz University and District Jerez Costa-N., Andalusian Health Service, 11003 Cádiz, Spain;
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Li LM, Violante IR, Zimmerman K, Leech R, Hampshire A, Patel M, Opitz A, McArthur D, Jolly A, Carmichael DW, Sharp DJ. Traumatic axonal injury influences the cognitive effect of non-invasive brain stimulation. Brain 2019; 142:3280-3293. [PMID: 31504237 PMCID: PMC6794939 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive brain stimulation has been widely investigated as a potential treatment for a range of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including brain injury. However, the behavioural effects of brain stimulation are variable, for reasons that are poorly understood. This is a particular challenge for traumatic brain injury, where patterns of damage and their clinical effects are heterogeneous. Here we test the hypothesis that the response to transcranial direct current stimulation following traumatic brain injury is dependent on white matter damage within the stimulated network. We used a novel simultaneous stimulation-MRI protocol applying anodal, cathodal and sham stimulation to 24 healthy control subjects and 35 patients with moderate/severe traumatic brain injury. Stimulation was applied to the right inferior frontal gyrus/anterior insula node of the salience network, which was targeted because our previous work had shown its importance to executive function. Stimulation was applied during performance of the Stop Signal Task, which assesses response inhibition, a key component of executive function. Structural MRI was used to assess the extent of brain injury, including diffusion MRI assessment of post-traumatic axonal injury. Functional MRI, which was simultaneously acquired to delivery of stimulation, assessed the effects of stimulation on cognitive network function. Anodal stimulation improved response inhibition in control participants, an effect that was not observed in the patient group. The extent of traumatic axonal injury within the salience network strongly influenced the behavioural response to stimulation. Increasing damage to the tract connecting the stimulated right inferior frontal gyrus/anterior insula to the rest of the salience network was associated with reduced beneficial effects of stimulation. In addition, anodal stimulation normalized default mode network activation in patients with poor response inhibition, suggesting that stimulation modulates communication between the networks involved in supporting cognitive control. These results demonstrate an important principle: that white matter structure of the connections within a stimulated brain network influences the behavioural response to stimulation. This suggests that a personalized approach to non-invasive brain stimulation is likely to be necessary, with structural integrity of the targeted brain networks an important criterion for patient selection and an individualized approach to the selection of stimulation parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia M Li
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Imaging Lab, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
- UK DRI Centre for Care Research and Technology, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Ines R Violante
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, UK
| | - Karl Zimmerman
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Imaging Lab, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Rob Leech
- Centre of Neuroimaging Science, Kings College London, UK
| | - Adam Hampshire
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Imaging Lab, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
- UK DRI Centre for Care Research and Technology, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Maneesh Patel
- Department of Imaging, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - David McArthur
- David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amy Jolly
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Imaging Lab, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
| | | | - David J Sharp
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Imaging Lab, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
- UK DRI Centre for Care Research and Technology, Imperial College London, UK
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Li LM, Violante IR, Leech R, Hampshire A, Opitz A, McArthur D, Carmichael DW, Sharp DJ. Cognitive enhancement with Salience Network electrical stimulation is influenced by network structural connectivity. Neuroimage 2019; 185:425-433. [PMID: 30385222 PMCID: PMC6299257 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.10.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Salience Network (SN) and its interactions are important for cognitive control. We have previously shown that structural damage to the SN is associated with abnormal functional connectivity between the SN and Default Mode Network (DMN), abnormal DMN deactivation, and impaired response inhibition, which is an important aspect of cognitive control. This suggests that stimulating the SN might enhance cognitive control. Here, we tested whether non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) could be used to modulate activity within the SN and enhance cognitive control. TDCS was applied to the right inferior frontal gyrus/anterior insula cortex during performance of the Stop Signal Task (SST) and concurrent functional (f)MRI. Anodal TDCS improved response inhibition. Furthermore, stratification of participants based on SN structural connectivity showed that it was an important influence on both behavioural and physiological responses to anodal TDCS. Participants with high fractional anisotropy within the SN showed improved SST performance and increased activation of the SN with anodal TDCS, whilst those with low fractional anisotropy within the SN did not. Cathodal stimulation of the SN produced activation of the right caudate, an effect which was not modulated by SN structural connectivity. Our results show that stimulation targeted to the SN can improve response inhibition, supporting the causal influence of this network on cognitive control and confirming it as a target to produce cognitive enhancement. Our results also highlight the importance of structural connectivity as a modulator of network to TDCS, which should guide the design and interpretation of future stimulation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia M Li
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Imaging Lab, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, W12 0NN, UK
| | | | - Rob Leech
- Centre for Neuroimaging Science, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Adam Hampshire
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Imaging Lab, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - David McArthur
- David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | | | - David J Sharp
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Imaging Lab, Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, W12 0NN, UK.
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Antal A, Alekseichuk I, Bikson M, Brockmöller J, Brunoni AR, Chen R, Cohen LG, Dowthwaite G, Ellrich J, Flöel A, Fregni F, George MS, Hamilton R, Haueisen J, Herrmann CS, Hummel FC, Lefaucheur JP, Liebetanz D, Loo CK, McCaig CD, Miniussi C, Miranda PC, Moliadze V, Nitsche MA, Nowak R, Padberg F, Pascual-Leone A, Poppendieck W, Priori A, Rossi S, Rossini PM, Rothwell J, Rueger MA, Ruffini G, Schellhorn K, Siebner HR, Ugawa Y, Wexler A, Ziemann U, Hallett M, Paulus W. Low intensity transcranial electric stimulation: Safety, ethical, legal regulatory and application guidelines. Clin Neurophysiol 2017; 128:1774-1809. [PMID: 28709880 PMCID: PMC5985830 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 670] [Impact Index Per Article: 95.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Low intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) in humans, encompassing transcranial direct current (tDCS), transcutaneous spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS), transcranial alternating current (tACS), and transcranial random noise (tRNS) stimulation or their combinations, appears to be safe. No serious adverse events (SAEs) have been reported so far in over 18,000 sessions administered to healthy subjects, neurological and psychiatric patients, as summarized here. Moderate adverse events (AEs), as defined by the necessity to intervene, are rare, and include skin burns with tDCS due to suboptimal electrode-skin contact. Very rarely mania or hypomania was induced in patients with depression (11 documented cases), yet a causal relationship is difficult to prove because of the low incidence rate and limited numbers of subjects in controlled trials. Mild AEs (MAEs) include headache and fatigue following stimulation as well as prickling and burning sensations occurring during tDCS at peak-to-baseline intensities of 1-2mA and during tACS at higher peak-to-peak intensities above 2mA. The prevalence of published AEs is different in studies specifically assessing AEs vs. those not assessing them, being higher in the former. AEs are frequently reported by individuals receiving placebo stimulation. The profile of AEs in terms of frequency, magnitude and type is comparable in healthy and clinical populations, and this is also the case for more vulnerable populations, such as children, elderly persons, or pregnant women. Combined interventions (e.g., co-application of drugs, electrophysiological measurements, neuroimaging) were not associated with further safety issues. Safety is established for low-intensity 'conventional' TES defined as <4mA, up to 60min duration per day. Animal studies and modeling evidence indicate that brain injury could occur at predicted current densities in the brain of 6.3-13A/m2 that are over an order of magnitude above those produced by tDCS in humans. Using AC stimulation fewer AEs were reported compared to DC. In specific paradigms with amplitudes of up to 10mA, frequencies in the kHz range appear to be safe. In this paper we provide structured interviews and recommend their use in future controlled studies, in particular when trying to extend the parameters applied. We also discuss recent regulatory issues, reporting practices and ethical issues. These recommendations achieved consensus in a meeting, which took place in Göttingen, Germany, on September 6-7, 2016 and were refined thereafter by email correspondence.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Antal
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - I Alekseichuk
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - M Bikson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, USA
| | - J Brockmöller
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Germany
| | - A R Brunoni
- Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27) and Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation University Hospital, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - R Chen
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - L G Cohen
- Human Cortical Physiology and Neurorehabilitation Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | | | - J Ellrich
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; EBS Technologies GmbH, Europarc Dreilinden, Germany
| | - A Flöel
- Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Greifswald, Germany
| | - F Fregni
- Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M S George
- Brain Stimulation Division, Medical University of South Carolina, and Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - R Hamilton
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J Haueisen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany
| | - C S Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - F C Hummel
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Centre of Neuroprosthetics (CNP) and Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland; Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL Valais), Sion, Switzerland
| | - J P Lefaucheur
- Department of Physiology, Henri Mondor Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, and EA 4391, Nerve Excitability and Therapeutic Team (ENT), Faculty of Medicine, Paris Est Créteil University, Créteil, France
| | - D Liebetanz
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - C K Loo
- School of Psychiatry & Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - C D McCaig
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - C Miniussi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy; Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - P C Miranda
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - V Moliadze
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
| | - M A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - R Nowak
- Neuroelectrics, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Munich Center for Brain Stimulation, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Germany
| | - A Pascual-Leone
- Division of Cognitive Neurology, Harvard Medical Center and Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, USA
| | - W Poppendieck
- Department of Information Technology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Mannheim, Germany
| | - A Priori
- Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutich, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan Italy; Deparment of Clinical Neurology, University Hospital Asst Santi Paolo E Carlo, Milan, Italy
| | - S Rossi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, Human Physiology Section and Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology Section, Brain Investigation & Neuromodulation Lab, University of Siena, Italy
| | - P M Rossini
- Area of Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University Clinic A. Gemelli, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - M A Rueger
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany
| | | | | | - H R Siebner
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Y Ugawa
- Department of Neurology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Fukushima Global Medical Science Center, Advanced Clinical Research Center, Fukushima Medical University, Japan
| | - A Wexler
- Department of Science, Technology & Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - U Ziemann
- Department of Neurology & Stroke, and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - M Hallett
- Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - W Paulus
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
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Klooster DCW, de Louw AJA, Aldenkamp AP, Besseling RMH, Mestrom RMC, Carrette S, Zinger S, Bergmans JWM, Mess WH, Vonck K, Carrette E, Breuer LEM, Bernas A, Tijhuis AG, Boon P. Technical aspects of neurostimulation: Focus on equipment, electric field modeling, and stimulation protocols. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 65:113-41. [PMID: 27021215 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Neuromodulation is a field of science, medicine, and bioengineering that encompasses implantable and non-implantable technologies for the purpose of improving quality of life and functioning of humans. Brain neuromodulation involves different neurostimulation techniques: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS), which are being used both to study their effects on cognitive brain functions and to treat neuropsychiatric disorders. The mechanisms of action of neurostimulation remain incompletely understood. Insight into the technical basis of neurostimulation might be a first step towards a more profound understanding of these mechanisms, which might lead to improved clinical outcome and therapeutic potential. This review provides an overview of the technical basis of neurostimulation focusing on the equipment, the present understanding of induced electric fields, and the stimulation protocols. The review is written from a technical perspective aimed at supporting the use of neurostimulation in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C W Klooster
- Kempenhaeghe Academic Center for Epileptology, P.O. Box 61, 5590 AB Heeze, The Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - A J A de Louw
- Kempenhaeghe Academic Center for Epileptology, P.O. Box 61, 5590 AB Heeze, The Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - A P Aldenkamp
- Kempenhaeghe Academic Center for Epileptology, P.O. Box 61, 5590 AB Heeze, The Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - R M H Besseling
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - R M C Mestrom
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - S Carrette
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - S Zinger
- Kempenhaeghe Academic Center for Epileptology, P.O. Box 61, 5590 AB Heeze, The Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - J W M Bergmans
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - W H Mess
- Departments of Clinical Neurophysiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - K Vonck
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - E Carrette
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - L E M Breuer
- Kempenhaeghe Academic Center for Epileptology, P.O. Box 61, 5590 AB Heeze, The Netherlands.
| | - A Bernas
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - A G Tijhuis
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - P Boon
- Kempenhaeghe Academic Center for Epileptology, P.O. Box 61, 5590 AB Heeze, The Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Salvador R, Wenger C, Miranda PC. Investigating the cortical regions involved in MEP modulation in tDCS. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:405. [PMID: 26528134 PMCID: PMC4602135 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used in several studies to evaluate cortical excitability changes induced by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex. Interpretation of these results, however, is hindered by the very different spatial distribution of the electric field (E-field) induced by the two techniques and by the different target neurons that they might act upon. In this study we used the finite element method to calculate the E-field distribution induced by TMS and tDCS in a realistically shaped model of a human head. A model of a commercially available figure-8 coil was placed over a position above the identified hand knob (HK) region. We also modeled two configurations of bipolar tDCS montages with one of the electrodes placed over the HK and a return electrode over the contralateral orbital region. The electrodes over the HK were either rectangular in shape, with an area of 35 cm2 or cylindrical with an area of π cm2 (1 cm radius). To compare the E-field distribution in TMS and the two tDCS models, average values of the E-field's magnitude as well as the polar and azimuthal angle were investigated in the HK region and premotor areas. The results show that both techniques induce fields with different magnitudes and directions in the HK: the field in tDCS is predominantly perpendicular to the cortical surface, contrary to what happens in TMS where the field is mostly parallel to it. In the premotor areas, the magnitude of the E-field induced in TMS was well below the accepted threshold for MEP generation, 100 V/m. In tDCS, the magnitude of the field in these areas was comparable to that induced at the HK with a significant component perpendicular to the cortical surface. These results indicate that tDCS and TMS target preferentially different neuronal structures at the HK. Besides, they show that premotor areas may play a role in the tDCS-induced after effects on motor cortex excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Salvador
- Department of Physics, Faculdade de Ciências, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Cornelia Wenger
- Department of Physics, Faculdade de Ciências, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro C Miranda
- Department of Physics, Faculdade de Ciências, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa, Portugal
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Li LM, Uehara K, Hanakawa T. The contribution of interindividual factors to variability of response in transcranial direct current stimulation studies. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:181. [PMID: 26029052 PMCID: PMC4428123 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 292] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
There has been an explosion of research using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for investigating and modulating human cognitive and motor function in healthy populations. It has also been used in many studies seeking to improve deficits in disease populations. With the slew of studies reporting “promising results” for everything from motor recovery after stroke to boosting memory function, one could be easily seduced by the idea of tDCS being the next panacea for all neurological ills. However, huge variability exists in the reported effects of tDCS, with great variability in the effect sizes and even contradictory results reported. In this review, we consider the interindividual factors that may contribute to this variability. In particular, we discuss the importance of baseline neuronal state and features, anatomy, age and the inherent variability in the injured brain. We additionally consider how interindividual variability affects the results of motor-evoked potential (MEP) testing with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which, in turn, can lead to apparent variability in response to tDCS in motor studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia M Li
- Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry Tokyo, Japan ; Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Restorative Neurosciences, Imperial College London London, UK
| | - Kazumasa Uehara
- Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry Tokyo, Japan ; Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Tokyo Japan
| | - Takashi Hanakawa
- Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry Tokyo, Japan
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