1
|
Gorrino I, Canessa N, Mattavelli G. Testing the effect of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation of the insular cortex to modulate decision-making and executive control. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1234837. [PMID: 37840546 PMCID: PMC10568024 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1234837] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Previous neuroimaging evidence highlighted the role of the insular and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) in conflict monitoring and decision-making, thus supporting the translational implications of targeting these regions in neuro-stimulation treatments for clinical purposes. Recent advancements of targeting and modeling procedures for high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) provided methodological support for the stimulation of otherwise challenging targets, and a previous study confirmed that cathodal HD-tDCS of the dACC modulates executive control and decision-making metrics in healthy individuals. On the other hand, evidence on the effect of stimulating the insula is still needed. Methods We used a modeling/targeting procedure to investigate the effect of stimulating the posterior insula on Flanker and gambling tasks assessing, respectively, executive control and both loss and risk aversion in decision-making. HD-tDCS was applied through 6 small electrodes delivering anodal, cathodal or sham stimulation for 20 min in a within-subject offline design with three separate sessions. Results Bayesian statistical analyses on Flanker conflict effect, as well as loss and risk aversion, provided moderate evidence for the null model (i.e., absence of HD-tDCS modulation). Discussion These findings suggest that further research on the effect of HD-tDCS on different regions is required to define reliable targets for clinical applications. While modeling and targeting procedures for neuromodulation in clinical research could lead to innovative protocols for stand-alone treatment, or possibly in combination with cognitive training, assessing the effectiveness of insula stimulation might require sensitive metrics other than those investigated here.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Gorrino
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Nicola Canessa
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, Pavia, Italy
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Mattavelli
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, Pavia, Italy
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brevers D, Baeken C, De Smet S, Catoira B, De Witte S, He Q, Maurage P, Schulze-Steinen L, Sescousse G, Verde CV, Vögele C, Billieux J. Stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates brain cue reactivity to reward (un)availability. Cortex 2023; 164:51-62. [PMID: 37172533 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.03.008] [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: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Brain imaging studies have shown that stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), which plays a pivotal role in high-order cognitive control processes, modulates brain reactivity to reward-related cues. Nevertheless, the impact of contextual factors such as reward availability (the reward that is depicted in the cue exposure task) on such modulation effect remains unclear. Here we tested whether a single session of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) over the left dlPFC differently impacts brain reactivity to cues signalling either availability or unavailability of a sports betting opportunity. Employing a within-subject design (verum versus sham HF-rTMS) among thirty-two frequent sports bettors, we first observed that, as compared to the sham condition, verum HF-rTMS modulated brain reactivity to game cues prior to being made (un)available for betting, through simultaneous increases (posterior insula and caudate nucleus) and decreases (occipital pole) in brain activation. Second, verum HF-rTMS led to increased ventral striatal activity towards cues available for betting but did not modulate brain response to cues unavailable for betting. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that transient stimulation of the left dlPFC led to a general modulation in brain activity in responses to cues, and that this effect is only partly dependent on cues signalling for reward (un)availability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Damien Brevers
- Louvain for Experimental Psychopathology Research Group (LEP), Psychological Sciences Research Institute (IPSY), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Institute for Health and Behaviour, Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Psychiatry University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Beatriz Catoira
- Department of Psychiatry University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sara De Witte
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Qinghua He
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Rd, Chongqing, China
| | - Pierre Maurage
- Louvain for Experimental Psychopathology Research Group (LEP), Psychological Sciences Research Institute (IPSY), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Laimi Schulze-Steinen
- Institute for Health and Behaviour, Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Guillaume Sescousse
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center - INSERM U1028 - CNRS UMR5292, PSYR2 Team, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Claudia Vila Verde
- Institute for Health and Behaviour, Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Claus Vögele
- Institute for Health and Behaviour, Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Joël Billieux
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Centre for Excessive Gambling, Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospitals (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Deep rTMS of the insula and prefrontal cortex in smokers with schizophrenia: Proof-of-concept study. SCHIZOPHRENIA 2022; 8:6. [PMID: 35217662 PMCID: PMC8881463 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-022-00224-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia have a high prevalence of cigarette smoking and respond poorly to conventional treatments, highlighting the need for new therapies. We conducted a mechanistic, proof-of-concept study using bilateral deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) of insular and prefrontal cortices at high frequency, using the specialized H4 coil. Feasibility of dTMS was tested for disruption of tobacco self-administration, insula target engagement, and insula circuit modulation, all of which were a priori outcomes of interest. Twenty patients completed the study, consisting of weekday dTMS sessions (randomization to active dTMS or sham; double-blind; 10 patients per group), a laboratory tobacco self-administration paradigm (pre/post assessments), and multimodal imaging (three MRI total sessions). Results showed that participants assigned to active dTMS were slower to initiate smoking their first cigarette compared with sham, consistent with smoking disruption. The imaging analyses did not reveal significant Time × Group interactions, but effects were in the anticipated directions. In arterial spin labeling analyses testing for target engagement, an overall decrease in insula blood flow, measured during a post-treatment MRI versus baseline, was numerically more pronounced in the active dTMS group than sham. In fMRI analyses, resting-state connectivity between the insula and default mode network showed a numerically greater change from baseline in the active dTMS group than sham, consistent with a functional change to insula circuits. Exploratory analyses further suggested a therapeutic effect of dTMS on symptoms of psychosis. These initial observations pave the way for future confirmatory studies of dTMS in smoking patients with schizophrenia.
Collapse
|
4
|
Steele VR, Maxwell AM. Treating cocaine and opioid use disorder with transcranial magnetic stimulation: A path forward. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 209:173240. [PMID: 34298030 PMCID: PMC8445657 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Developing new, effective treatments for substance use disorders (SUDs), especially cocaine and opioid use disorders (CUD and OUD), are of immense importance. These are chronic, relapsing brain diseases characterized by dysregulated circuits manifesting from neuroplastic change brought on by repeated exposure to substances of abuse. A potential treatment is therapeutically inducing neuroplastic change in targeted dysregulated circuits. One such intervention, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has gained traction over the past two decades as a method of noninvasively stimulating cortical structures in order to induce subcortical neuroplastic change. By doing so, rTMS ameliorates symptoms that are consequent of dysregulations in disease-related circuits, such as craving, and reduces drug use. Although rTMS has been successfully applied as a treatment for other clinical disorders, progress toward treatment applications for SUDs has been stymied by what we dub "known unknowns". These are fundamental lines of research within the rTMS-SUD field that have yet to be systematically understood which could help to optimize TMS as an intervention for SUDs. Because progress in treatment for CUD and OUD is imperative given the widespread severity of OUD and the lack of treatment for CUD, it is necessary to critically reflect on the ways in which rTMS research for these disorders can most effectively move forward to help patients. We articulate six "known unknowns" and outline a direction of research to address each. Briefly, the "known unknowns" in the field are: 1) Cortical target selection, 2) subcortical circuit engagement, 3) optimizing rTMS sequences, 4) rTMS as an adjuvant to existing interventions, 5) manipulating brain state, and 6) selecting outcome measures. We also outline research design approaches to address these "known unknowns" in the rTMS-SUDs field. Unification of efforts across research laboratories is necessary to develop empirically validated treatments that will benefit patients in a timely fashion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vaughn R Steele
- Yale University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven CT, USA.
| | - Andrea M Maxwell
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|