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Guerra A, Paparella G, Passaretti M, Costa D, Birreci D, De Biase A, Colella D, Angelini L, Cannavacciuolo A, Berardelli A, Bologna M. Theta-tACS modulates cerebellar-related motor functions and cerebellar-cortical connectivity. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 158:159-169. [PMID: 38219405 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.12.129] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of cerebellar transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) delivered at cerebellar-resonant frequencies, i.e., theta (θ) and gamma (γ), on upper limb motor performance and cerebellum-primary motor cortex (M1) connectivity, as assessed by cerebellar-brain inhibition (CBI), in healthy subjects. METHODS Participants underwent cerebellar-tACS while performing three cerebellar-dependent motor tasks: (i) rhythmic finger-tapping, (ii) arm reaching-to-grasp ('grasping') and (iii) arm reaching-to-point ('pointing') an object. Also, we evaluated possible changes in CBI during cerebellar-tACS. RESULTS θ-tACS decreased movement regularity during the tapping task and increased the duration of the pointing task compared to sham- and γ-tACS. Additionally, θ-tACS increased the CBI effectiveness (greater inhibition). The effect of θ-tACS on movement rhythm correlated with CBI changes and less tapping regularity corresponded to greater CBI. CONCLUSIONS Cerebellar-tACS delivered at the θ frequency modulates cerebellar-related motor behavior and this effect is, at least in part, mediated by changes in the cerebellar inhibitory output onto M1. The effects of θ-tACS may be due to the modulation of cerebellar neurons that resonate to the θ rhythm. SIGNIFICANCE These findings contribute to a better understanding of the physiological mechanisms of motor control and provide new evidence on cerebellar non-invasive brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Guerra
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Study Center on Neurodegeneration (CESNE), Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giulia Paparella
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS) 86077, Italy; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | | | - Davide Costa
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Daniele Birreci
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Alessandro De Biase
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Donato Colella
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | | | | | - Alfredo Berardelli
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS) 86077, Italy; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Matteo Bologna
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS) 86077, Italy; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy.
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Cheron G, Ristori D, Marquez-Ruiz J, Cebolla AM, Ris L. Electrophysiological alterations of the Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar neurons in a mouse model of Alzheimer disease (electrophysiology on cerebellum of AD mice). Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5547-5563. [PMID: 35141975 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is histopathologically well defined by the presence of amyloid deposits and tau-related neurofibrillary tangles in crucial regions of the brain. Interest is growing in revealing and determining possible pathological markers also in the cerebellum as its involvement in cognitive functions is now well supported. Despite the central position of the Purkinje cell in the cerebellum, its electrophysiological behaviour in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease is scarce in the literature. Our first aim was here to focus on the electrophysiological behaviour of the cerebellum in awake mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (APPswe/PSEN1dE9) and the related performance on the water-maze test classically used in behavioural studies. We found prevalent signs of electrophysiological alterations in both Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar nuclei neurons which might explain the behavioural deficits reported during the water-maze test. The alterations of neurons firing were accompanied by a dual (~16 and ~228 Hz) local field potential's oscillation in the Purkinje cell layer of Alzheimer's disease mice which was concomitant to an important increase of both the simple and the complex spikes. In addition, β-amyloid deposits were present in the molecular layer of the cerebellum. These results highlight the importance of the output firing modification of the AD cerebellum that may indirectly impact the activity of its subcortical and cortical targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Cheron
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,ULB Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neuroscience, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Dominique Ristori
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Javier Marquez-Ruiz
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain
| | - Anna-Maria Cebolla
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Ris
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium.,UMONS Research Institut for health and technology, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
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Baumel Y, Cohen D. State-dependent entrainment of cerebellar nuclear neurons to the local field potential during voluntary movements. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:112-122. [PMID: 34107223 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00551.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between the local field potential (LFP) and single neurons is essential if we are to understand network dynamics and the entrainment of neuronal activity. Here, we investigated the interaction between the LFP and single neurons recorded in the rat cerebellar nuclei (CN), which are part of the sensorimotor network, in freely moving rats. During movement, the LFP displayed persistent oscillations in the theta band frequency, whereas CN neurons displayed intermittent oscillations in the same frequency band contingent on the instantaneous LFP power; the neurons oscillated primarily when the concurrent LFP power was either high or low. Quantification of the relative instantaneous frequency and phase locking showed that CN neurons exhibited phase locked rhythmic activity at a frequency similar to that of the LFP or at a shifted frequency during high and low LFP power, respectively. We suggest that this nonlinear interaction between cerebellar neurons and the LFP power, which occurs solely during movement, contributes to the shaping of cerebellar output patterns.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We studied the interaction between single neurons and the LFP in the cerebellar nuclei of freely moving rats. We show that during movement, the neurons oscillated in the theta frequency band contingent on the concurrent LFP oscillation power in the same band; the neurons oscillated primarily when the LFP power was either high or low. We are the first to demonstrate a nonlinear, state-dependent entrainment of single neurons to the LFP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Baumel
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Dana Cohen
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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Andersen LM, Jerbi K, Dalal SS. Can EEG and MEG detect signals from the human cerebellum? Neuroimage 2020; 215:116817. [PMID: 32278092 PMCID: PMC7306153 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum plays a key role in the regulation of motor learning, coordination and timing, and has been implicated in sensory and cognitive processes as well. However, our current knowledge of its electrophysiological mechanisms comes primarily from direct recordings in animals, as investigations into cerebellar function in humans have instead predominantly relied on lesion, haemodynamic and metabolic imaging studies. While the latter provide fundamental insights into the contribution of the cerebellum to various cerebellar-cortical pathways mediating behaviour, they remain limited in terms of temporal and spectral resolution. In principle, this shortcoming could be overcome by monitoring the cerebellum's electrophysiological signals. Non-invasive assessment of cerebellar electrophysiology in humans, however, is hampered by the limited spatial resolution of electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) in subcortical structures, i.e., deep sources. Furthermore, it has been argued that the anatomical configuration of the cerebellum leads to signal cancellation in MEG and EEG. Yet, claims that MEG and EEG are unable to detect cerebellar activity have been challenged by an increasing number of studies over the last decade. Here we address this controversy and survey reports in which electrophysiological signals were successfully recorded from the human cerebellum. We argue that the detection of cerebellum activity non-invasively with MEG and EEG is indeed possible and can be enhanced with appropriate methods, in particular using connectivity analysis in source space. We provide illustrative examples of cerebellar activity detected with MEG and EEG. Furthermore, we propose practical guidelines to optimize the detection of cerebellar activity with MEG and EEG. Finally, we discuss MEG and EEG signal contamination that may lead to localizing spurious sources in the cerebellum and suggest ways of handling such artefacts. This review is to be read as a perspective review that highlights that it is indeed possible to measure cerebellum with MEG and EEG and encourages MEG and EEG researchers to do so. Its added value beyond highlighting and encouraging is that it offers useful advice for researchers aspiring to investigate the cerebellum with MEG and EEG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lau M Andersen
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Denmark; NatMEG, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Karim Jerbi
- Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (CoCo Lab), Psychology Department, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; MEG Unit, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sarang S Dalal
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Denmark
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Mazaheri A, Slagter HA, Thut G, Foxe JJ. Orchestration of brain oscillations: principles and functions. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 48:2385-2388. [PMID: 30276895 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Mazaheri
- Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Heleen A Slagter
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gregor Thut
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - John J Foxe
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
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Moscato L, Montagna I, De Propris L, Tritto S, Mapelli L, D'Angelo E. Long-Lasting Response Changes in Deep Cerebellar Nuclei in vivo Correlate With Low-Frequency Oscillations. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:84. [PMID: 30894802 PMCID: PMC6414422 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) have been suggested to play a critical role in sensorimotor learning and some forms of long-term synaptic plasticity observed in vitro have been proposed as a possible substrate. However, till now it was not clear whether and how DCN neuron responses manifest long-lasting changes in vivo. Here, we have characterized DCN unit responses to tactile stimulation of the facial area in anesthetized mice and evaluated the changes induced by theta-sensory stimulation (TSS), a 4 Hz stimulation pattern that is known to induce plasticity in the cerebellar cortex in vivo. DCN units responded to tactile stimulation generating bursts and pauses, which reflected combinations of excitatory inputs most likely relayed by mossy fiber collaterals, inhibitory inputs relayed by Purkinje cells, and intrinsic rebound firing. Interestingly, initial bursts and pauses were often followed by stimulus-induced oscillations in the peri-stimulus time histograms (PSTH). TSS induced long-lasting changes in DCN unit responses. Spike-related potentiation and suppression (SR-P and SR-S), either in units initiating the response with bursts or pauses, were correlated with stimulus-induced oscillations. Fitting with resonant functions suggested the existence of peaks in the theta-band (burst SR-P at 9 Hz, pause SR-S at 5 Hz). Optogenetic stimulation of the cerebellar cortex altered stimulus-induced oscillations suggesting that Purkinje cells play a critical role in the circuits controlling DCN oscillations and plasticity. This observation complements those reported before on the granular and molecular layers supporting the generation of multiple distributed plasticities in the cerebellum following naturally patterned sensory entrainment. The unique dependency of DCN plasticity on circuit oscillations discloses a potential relationship between cerebellar learning and activity patterns generated in the cerebellar network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Moscato
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ileana Montagna
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Licia De Propris
- Brain Connectivity Center, C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy
| | - Simona Tritto
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lisa Mapelli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Egidio D'Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Brain Connectivity Center, C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy
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Miyaguchi S, Otsuru N, Kojima S, Saito K, Inukai Y, Masaki M, Onishi H. Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation With Gamma Oscillations Over the Primary Motor Cortex and Cerebellar Hemisphere Improved Visuomotor Performance. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:132. [PMID: 30034329 PMCID: PMC6043796 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can be used to modulate oscillatory brain activity. In this study, we investigated whether tACS applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) and cerebellar cortex region improved motor performance. We applied tACS (1.0 mA) to 20 healthy adults while they performed an isometric force task with some visuomotor control using their right index finger. Gamma (70 Hz) oscillations in the Experiment 1 or beta (20 Hz) oscillations in the Experiment 2 were applied for 30 s over the left M1, right cerebellar hemisphere or both regions ("M1-Cerebellum"), and errors performing the task were compared. Beta-oscillation tACS did not affect motor performance. With the gamma-oscillation tACS, a negative correlation was found between the difference of error in the M1-Cerebellum condition and the number of errors in the sham condition (P = 0.005, Pearson's r = -0.597), indicating that motor performance improved with M1-Cerebellum tACS for subjects with low motor performance in the sham condition. Those who performed poorly in the sham condition made significantly fewer errors with M1-Cerebellum tACS (P = 0.004). Thus, for subjects with poorer motor performance, tACS with gamma oscillations applied over the M1 and contralateral cerebellar hemisphere improved their performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota Miyaguchi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Naofumi Otsuru
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Sho Kojima
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Kei Saito
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yasuto Inukai
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Masaki
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hideaki Onishi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
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