1
|
Grigutsch LS, Haverland B, Timmsen LS, Asmussen L, Braaß H, Wolf S, Luu TV, Stagg CJ, Schulz R, Quandt F, Schwab BC. Differential effects of theta-gamma tACS on motor skill acquisition in young individuals and stroke survivors: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:1076-1085. [PMID: 39245294 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.09.001] [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: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Theta-gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) was recently found to enhance thumb acceleration in young, healthy participants, suggesting a potential role in facilitating motor skill acquisition. Given the relevance of motor skill acquisition in stroke rehabilitation, theta-gamma tACS may hold potential for treating stroke survivors. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the effects of theta-gamma tACS on motor skill acquisition in young, healthy participants and stroke survivors. METHODS In a pre-registered, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study, 78 young, healthy participants received either theta-gamma peak-coupled (TGP) tACS, theta-gamma trough-coupled (TGT) tACS or sham stimulation. 20 individuals with a chronic stroke received either TGP or sham. TACS was applied over motor cortical areas while participants performed an acceleration-dependent thumb movement task. Stroke survivors were characterized using standardized testing, with a subgroup receiving additional structural brain imaging. RESULTS Neither TGP nor TGT tACS significantly modified general motor skill acquisition in the young, healthy cohort. In contrast, in the stroke cohort, TGP diminished motor skill acquisition compared to sham. Exploratory analyses revealed that, independent of general motor skill acquisition, healthy participants receiving TGP or TGT exhibited greater peak thumb acceleration than those receiving sham. CONCLUSION Although theta-gamma tACS increased thumb acceleration in young, healthy participants, consistent with previous reports, it did not enhance overall motor skill acquisition in a more complex motor task. Furthermore, it even had detrimental effects on motor skill acquisition in stroke survivors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L S Grigutsch
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - B Haverland
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - L S Timmsen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - L Asmussen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - H Braaß
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - S Wolf
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - T V Luu
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - C J Stagg
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - R Schulz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - F Quandt
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - B C Schwab
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Biomedical Signals and Systems, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Thibaut A, Martens G. Neuromodulation for severe brain injury: time for a paradigm shift? Nat Rev Neurol 2024; 20:441-442. [PMID: 38945982 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-024-00980-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Thibaut
- GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Centre du Cerveau², University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
| | - Géraldine Martens
- GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Sport and Trauma Applied Research Lab, Department of Surgery, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vassiliadis P, Beanato E, Popa T, Windel F, Morishita T, Neufeld E, Duque J, Derosiere G, Wessel MJ, Hummel FC. Non-invasive stimulation of the human striatum disrupts reinforcement learning of motor skills. Nat Hum Behav 2024; 8:1581-1598. [PMID: 38811696 PMCID: PMC11343719 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01901-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Reinforcement feedback can improve motor learning, but the underlying brain mechanisms remain underexplored. In particular, the causal contribution of specific patterns of oscillatory activity within the human striatum is unknown. To address this question, we exploited a recently developed non-invasive deep brain stimulation technique called transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) during reinforcement motor learning with concurrent neuroimaging, in a randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind study. Striatal tTIS applied at 80 Hz, but not at 20 Hz, abolished the benefits of reinforcement on motor learning. This effect was related to a selective modulation of neural activity within the striatum. Moreover, 80 Hz, but not 20 Hz, tTIS increased the neuromodulatory influence of the striatum on frontal areas involved in reinforcement motor learning. These results show that tTIS can non-invasively and selectively modulate a striatal mechanism involved in reinforcement learning, expanding our tools for the study of causal relationships between deep brain structures and human behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Vassiliadis
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, EPFL Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elena Beanato
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, EPFL Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Traian Popa
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, EPFL Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Windel
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, EPFL Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Takuya Morishita
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, EPFL Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Esra Neufeld
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julie Duque
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gerard Derosiere
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Impact Team, Inserm U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon 1 University, Bron, France
| | - Maximilian J Wessel
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, EPFL Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Friedhelm C Hummel
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland.
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute, EPFL Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland.
- Clinical Neuroscience, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ikarashi H, Otsuru N, Gomez-Tames J, Hirata A, Nagasaka K, Miyaguchi S, Sakurai N, Ohno K, Kodama N, Onishi H. Modulation of pain perception through transcranial alternating current stimulation and its nonlinear relationship with the simulated electric field magnitude. Eur J Pain 2024; 28:1018-1028. [PMID: 38318653 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.2249] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oscillatory activities observed in multiple regions are closely associated with the experience of pain. Specifically, oscillatory activities within the theta- and beta-frequency bands, observed in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), have been implicated in pain perception among healthy individuals and those with chronic pain. However, their physiological significance remains unclear. METHODS We explored the modulation of pain perception in healthy individuals by theta- and beta-band transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over the left DLPFC and examined the relationship between the modulation effect and magnitude of the electric field elicited by tACS in the left DLPFC using computational simulation. RESULTS Our findings revealed that both theta- and beta-tACS increased the heat pain threshold during and after stimulation. Notably, the simulated electric field magnitude in the left DLPFC exhibited an inverted U-shaped relationship with the pain modulation effect for theta-tACS. CONCLUSIONS Our study findings suggested that there would be an optimal electric field strength to produce a high analgesic effect for theta-tACS. SIGNIFICANCE The application of theta- and beta-tACS interventions targeting the left DLPFC might facilitate the treatment of chronic pain. Furthermore, the attainment of effective pain modulation via theta-tACS over the DLPFC warrants the use of optimal stimulus intensity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Ikarashi
- Graduate School, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - N Otsuru
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - J Gomez-Tames
- Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Center of Biomedical Physics and Information Technology, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - A Hirata
- Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Center of Biomedical Physics and Information Technology, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - K Nagasaka
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - S Miyaguchi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - N Sakurai
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - K Ohno
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - N Kodama
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - H Onishi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Haslacher D, Cavallo A, Reber P, Kattein A, Thiele M, Nasr K, Hashemi K, Sokoliuk R, Thut G, Soekadar SR. Working memory enhancement using real-time phase-tuned transcranial alternating current stimulation. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:850-859. [PMID: 39029737 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.07.007] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior work has shown that transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) of parietooccipital alpha oscillations (8-14 Hz) can modulate working memory (WM) performance as a function of the phase lag to endogenous oscillations. However, leveraging this effect using real-time phase-tuned tACS has not been feasible so far due to stimulation artifacts preventing continuous phase tracking. OBJECTIVES AND HYPOTHESIS We aimed to develop a system that tracks and adapts the phase lag between tACS and ongoing parietooccipital alpha oscillations in real-time. We hypothesized that such real-time phase-tuned tACS enhances working memory performance, depending on the phase lag. METHODS We developed real-time phase-tuned closed-loop amplitude-modulated tACS (CLAM-tACS) targeting parietooccipital alpha oscillations. CLAM-tACS was applied at six different phase lags relative to ongoing alpha oscillations while participants (N = 21) performed a working memory task. To exclude that behavioral effects of CLAM-tACS were mediated by other factors such as sensory co-stimulation, a second group of participants (N = 25) received equivalent stimulation of the forehead. RESULTS WM accuracy improved in a phase lag dependent manner (p = 0.0350) in the group receiving parietooccipital stimulation, with the strongest enhancement observed at 330° phase lag between tACS and ongoing alpha oscillations (p = 0.00273, d = 0.976). Moreover, across participants, modulation of frontoparietal alpha oscillations correlated both in amplitude (p = 0.0248) and phase (p = 0.0270) with the modulation of WM accuracy. No such effects were observed in the control group receiving frontal stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of real-time phase-tuned CLAM-tACS in modulating both brain activity and behavior, thereby paving the way for further investigation into brain-behavior relationships and the exploration of innovative therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Haslacher
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alessia Cavallo
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Reber
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Anna Kattein
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Moritz Thiele
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Khaled Nasr
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kimia Hashemi
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rodika Sokoliuk
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gregor Thut
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Surjo R Soekadar
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
De Paolis ML, Paoletti I, Zaccone C, Capone F, D'Amelio M, Krashia P. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at gamma frequency: an up-and-coming tool to modify the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:33. [PMID: 38926897 PMCID: PMC11210106 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00423-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The last decades have witnessed huge efforts devoted to deciphering the pathological mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and to testing new drugs, with the recent FDA approval of two anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies for AD treatment. Beyond these drug-based experimentations, a number of pre-clinical and clinical trials are exploring the benefits of alternative treatments, such as non-invasive stimulation techniques on AD neuropathology and symptoms. Among the different non-invasive brain stimulation approaches, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is gaining particular attention due to its ability to externally control gamma oscillations. Here, we outline the current knowledge concerning the clinical efficacy, safety, ease-of-use and cost-effectiveness of tACS on early and advanced AD, applied specifically at 40 Hz frequency, and also summarise pre-clinical results on validated models of AD and ongoing patient-centred trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa De Paolis
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Paoletti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Zaccone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Fioravante Capone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200 - 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D'Amelio
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso Di Fiorano, 64 - 00143, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paraskevi Krashia
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso Di Fiorano, 64 - 00143, Rome, Italy
- Department of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Misselhorn J, Fiene M, Radecke JO, Engel AK, Schneider TR. Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation over Frontal Eye Fields Mimics Attentional Modulation of Visual Processing. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1510232024. [PMID: 38729759 PMCID: PMC11209665 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1510-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Attentional control over sensory processing has been linked to neural alpha oscillations and related inhibition of cerebral cortex. Despite the wide consensus on the functional relevance of alpha oscillations for attention, precise neural mechanisms of how alpha oscillations shape perception and how this top-down modulation is implemented in cortical networks remain unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that alpha oscillations in frontal eye fields (FEFs) are causally involved in the top-down regulation of visual processing in humans (male and female). We applied sham-controlled, intermittent transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over bilateral FEF at either 10 Hz (alpha) or 40 Hz (gamma) to manipulate attentional preparation in a visual discrimination task. Under each stimulation condition, we measured psychometric functions for contrast perception and introduced a novel linear mixed modeling approach for statistical control of neurosensory side effects of the electric stimulation. tACS at alpha frequency reduced the slope of the psychometric function, resulting in improved subthreshold and impaired superthreshold contrast perception. Side effects on the psychometric functions were complex and showed large interindividual variability. Controlling for the impact of side effects on the psychometric parameters by using covariates in the linear mixed model analysis reduced this variability and strengthened the perceptual effect. We propose that alpha tACS over FEF mimicked a state of endogenous attention by strengthening a fronto-occipitoparietal network in the alpha band. We speculate that this network modulation enhanced phasic gating in occipitoparietal cortex leading to increased variability of single-trial psychometric thresholds, measurable as a reduction of psychometric slope.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Misselhorn
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany
| | - Marina Fiene
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany
| | - Jan-Ole Radecke
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck 23562, Germany
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Lübeck 23562, Germany
| | - Andreas K Engel
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany
| | - Till R Schneider
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kim Y, Lee JH, Park JC, Kwon J, Kim H, Seo J, Min BK. Neuromodulation of inhibitory control using phase-lagged transcranial alternating current stimulation. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2024; 21:93. [PMID: 38816860 PMCID: PMC11138099 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-024-01385-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a prominent non-invasive brain stimulation method for modulating neural oscillations and enhancing human cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of individualized theta tACS delivered in-phase and out-of-phase between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) during inhibitory control performance. METHODS The participants engaged in a Stroop task with phase-lagged theta tACS over individually optimized high-density electrode montages targeting the dACC and lDLPFC. We analyzed task performance, event-related potentials, and prestimulus electroencephalographic theta and alpha power. RESULTS We observed significantly reduced reaction times following out-of-phase tACS, accompanied by reduced frontocentral N1 and N2 amplitudes, enhanced parieto-occipital P1 amplitudes, and pronounced frontocentral late sustained potentials. Out-of-phase stimulation also resulted in significantly higher prestimulus frontocentral theta and alpha activity. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that out-of-phase theta tACS potently modulates top-down inhibitory control, supporting the feasibility of phase-lagged tACS to enhance inhibitory control performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukyung Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Je-Hyeop Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
- BK21 Four Institute of Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Je-Choon Park
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Jeongwook Kwon
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Hyoungkyu Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
- Institute of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Jeehye Seo
- BK21 Four Institute of Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
- Institute of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Byoung-Kyong Min
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea.
- BK21 Four Institute of Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea.
- Institute of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Vieira PG, Krause MR, Pack CC. Temporal interference stimulation disrupts spike timing in the primate brain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4558. [PMID: 38811618 PMCID: PMC11137077 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48962-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrical stimulation can regulate brain activity, producing clear clinical benefits, but focal and effective neuromodulation often requires surgically implanted electrodes. Recent studies argue that temporal interference (TI) stimulation may provide similar outcomes non-invasively. During TI, scalp electrodes generate multiple electrical fields in the brain, modulating neural activity only at their intersection. Despite considerable enthusiasm for this approach, little empirical evidence demonstrates its effectiveness, especially under conditions suitable for human use. Here, using single-neuron recordings in non-human primates, we establish that TI reliably alters the timing, but not the rate, of spiking activity. However, we show that TI requires strategies-high carrier frequencies, multiple electrodes, and amplitude-modulated waveforms-that also limit its effectiveness. Combined, these factors make TI 80 % weaker than other forms of non-invasive brain stimulation. Although unlikely to cause widespread neuronal entrainment, TI may be ideal for disrupting pathological oscillatory activity, a hallmark of many neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro G Vieira
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Matthew R Krause
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Christopher C Pack
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Liu R, Zhu G, Wu Z, Gan Y, Zhang J, Liu J, Wang L. Temporal interference stimulation targets deep primate brain. Neuroimage 2024; 291:120581. [PMID: 38508293 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120581] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Temporal interference (TI) stimulation, a novel non-invasive stimulation strategy, has recently been shown to modulate neural activity in deep brain regions of living mice. Yet, it is uncertain if this method is applicable to larger brains and whether the electric field produced under traditional safety currents can penetrate deep regions as observed in mice. Despite recent model-based simulation studies offering positive evidence at both macro- and micro-scale levels, the absence of electrophysiological data from actual brains hinders comprehensive understanding and potential application of TI. This study aims to directly measure the spatiotemporal properties of the interfered electric field in the rhesus monkey brain and to validate the effects of TI on the human brain. Two monkeys were involved in the measurement, with implantation of several stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) depth electrodes. TI stimulation was applied to anesthetized monkeys using two pairs of surface electrodes at differing stimulation parameters. Model-based simulations were also conducted and subsequently compared with actual recordings. Additionally, TI stimulation was administered to patients with motor disorders to validate its effects on motor symptoms. Through the integration of computational electric field simulation with empirical measurements, it was determined that the temporally interfering electric fields in the deep central regions are capable of attaining a magnitude sufficient to induce a subthreshold modulation effect on neural signals. Additionally, an improvement in movement disorders was observed as a result of TI stimulation. This study is the first to systematically measure the TI electric field in living non-human primates, offering empirical evidence that TI holds promise as a more focal and precise method for modulating neural activities in deep regions of a large brain. This advancement paves the way for future applications of TI in treating neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruobing Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, PR China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Guanyu Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhengping Wu
- School of Innovations, Sanjiang University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Yifei Gan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jianguo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jiali Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, PR China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Liang Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, PR China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Farahani F, Khadka N, Parra LC, Bikson M, Vöröslakos M. Transcranial electric stimulation modulates firing rate at clinically relevant intensities. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:561-571. [PMID: 38631548 PMCID: PMC466978 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Notwithstanding advances with low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), there remain questions about the efficacy of clinically realistic electric fields on neuronal function. OBJECTIVE To measure electric fields magnitude and their effects on neuronal firing rate of hippocampal neurons in freely moving rats, and to establish calibrated computational models of current flow. METHODS Current flow models were calibrated on electric field measures in the motor cortex (n = 2 anesthetized rats) and hippocampus. A Neuropixels 2.0 probe with 384 channels was used in an in-vivo rat model of tES (n = 4 freely moving and 2 urethane anesthetized rats) to detect effects of weak fields on neuronal firing rate. High-density field mapping and computational models verified field intensity (1 V/m in hippocampus per 50 μA of applied skull currents). RESULTS Electric fields of as low as 0.35 V/m (0.25-0.47) acutely modulated average firing rate in the hippocampus. At these intensities, firing rate effects increased monotonically with electric field intensity at a rate of 11.5 % per V/m (7.2-18.3). For the majority of excitatory neurons, firing increased for soma-depolarizing stimulation and diminished for soma-hyperpolarizing stimulation. While more diverse, the response of inhibitory neurons followed a similar pattern on average, likely as a result of excitatory drive. CONCLUSION In awake animals, electric fields modulate spiking rate above levels previously observed in vitro. Firing rate effects are likely mediated by somatic polarization of pyramidal neurons. We recommend that all future rodent experiments directly measure electric fields to insure rigor and reproducibility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Forouzan Farahani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Niranjan Khadka
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lucas C Parra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marom Bikson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mihály Vöröslakos
- Neuroscience Institute and Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Boetzel C, Stecher HI, Herrmann CS. Aligning Event-Related Potentials with Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation for Modulation-a Review. Brain Topogr 2024:10.1007/s10548-024-01055-1. [PMID: 38689065 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-024-01055-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
This review aims to demonstrate the connections between event-related potentials (ERPs), event-related oscillations (EROs), and non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), with a specific focus on transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). We begin with a short examination and discussion of the relation between ERPs and EROs. Then, we investigate the diverse fields of NIBS, highlighting tACS as a potent tool for modulating neural oscillations and influencing cognitive performance. Emphasizing the impact of tACS on individual ERP components, this article offers insights into the potential of conventional tACS for targeted stimulation of single ERP components. Furthermore, we review recent articles that explore a novel approach of tACS: ERP-aligned tACS. This innovative technique exploits the temporal precision of ERP components, aligning tACS with specific neural events to optimize stimulation effects and target the desired neural response. In conclusion, this review combines current knowledge to explore how ERPs, EROs, and NIBS interact, particularly highlighting the modulatory possibilities offered by tACS. The incorporation of ERP-aligned tACS introduces new opportunities for future research, advancing our understanding of the complex connection between neural oscillations and cognitive processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Boetzel
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence "Hearing for All", Carl Von Ossietzky University, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114 - 118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Heiko I Stecher
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence "Hearing for All", Carl Von Ossietzky University, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114 - 118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christoph S Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence "Hearing for All", Carl Von Ossietzky University, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114 - 118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany.
- Neuroimaging Unit, European Medical School, Carl Von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany.
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl Von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Seo J, Lee J, Min BK. Out-of-phase transcranial alternating current stimulation modulates the neurodynamics of inhibitory control. Neuroimage 2024; 292:120612. [PMID: 38648868 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120612] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is an efficient neuromodulation technique that enhances cognitive function in a non-invasive manner. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated whether tACS with different phase lags (0° and 180°) between the dorsal anterior cingulate and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortices modulated inhibitory control performance during the Stroop task. We found out-of-phase tACS mediated improvements in task performance, which was neurodynamically reflected as putamen, dorsolateral prefrontal, and primary motor cortical activation as well as prefrontal-based top-down functional connectivity. Our observations uncover the neurophysiological bases of tACS-phase-dependent neuromodulation and provide a feasible non-invasive approach to effectively modulate inhibitory control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeehye Seo
- Institute of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; BK21 Four Institute of Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Jehyeop Lee
- BK21 Four Institute of Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Byoung-Kyong Min
- Institute of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; BK21 Four Institute of Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Fang Z, Sack AT, Leunissen I. The phase of tACS-entrained pre-SMA beta oscillations modulates motor inhibition. Neuroimage 2024; 290:120572. [PMID: 38490584 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120572] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Inhibitory control has been linked to beta oscillations in the fronto-basal ganglia network. Here we aim to investigate the functional role of the phase of this oscillatory beta rhythm for successful motor inhibition. We applied 20 Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) while presenting stop signals at 4 (Experiment 1) and 8 (Experiment 2) equidistant phases of the tACS entrained beta oscillations. Participants showed better inhibitory performance when stop signals were presented at the trough of the beta oscillation whereas their inhibitory control performance decreased with stop signals being presented at the oscillatory beta peak. These results are consistent with the communication through coherence theory, in which postsynaptic effects are thought to be greater when an input arrives at an optimal phase within the oscillatory cycle of the target neuronal population. The current study provides mechanistic insights into the neural communication principles underlying successful motor inhibition and may have implications for phase-specific interventions aimed at treating inhibitory control disorders such as PD or OCD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Fang
- Section Brain Stimulation and Cognition, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (MBIC), Maastricht University, Oxfordlaan 55, 6229EV, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander T Sack
- Section Brain Stimulation and Cognition, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (MBIC), Maastricht University, Oxfordlaan 55, 6229EV, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Inge Leunissen
- Section Brain Stimulation and Cognition, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (MBIC), Maastricht University, Oxfordlaan 55, 6229EV, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mendes AJ, Lema A, Carvalho S, Leite J. Tailoring transcranial alternating current stimulation based on endogenous event-related P3 to modulate premature responses: a feasibility study. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17144. [PMID: 38584936 PMCID: PMC10998630 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a brain stimulation method for modulating ongoing endogenous oscillatory activity at specified frequency during sensory and cognitive processes. Given the overlap between event-related potentials (ERPs) and event-related oscillations (EROs), ERPs can be studied as putative biomarkers of the effects of tACS in the brain during cognitive/sensory task performance. Objective This preliminary study aimed to test the feasibility of individually tailored tACS based on individual P3 (latency and frequency) elicited during a cued premature response task. Thus, tACS frequency was individually tailored to match target-P3 ERO for each participant. Likewise, the target onset in the task was adjusted to match the tACS phase and target-P3 latency. Methods Twelve healthy volunteers underwent tACS in two separate sessions while performing a premature response task. Target-P3 latency and ERO were calculated in a baseline block during the first session to allow a posterior synchronization between the tACS and the endogenous oscillatory activity. The cue and target-P3 amplitudes, delta/theta ERO, and power spectral density (PSD) were evaluated pre and post-tACS blocks. Results Target-P3 amplitude significantly increased after activetACS, when compared to sham. Evoked-delta during cue-P3 was decreased after tACS. No effects were found for delta ERO during target-P3 nor for the PSD and behavioral outcomes. Conclusion The present findings highlight the possible effect of phase synchronization between individualized tACS parameters and endogenous oscillatory activity, which may result in an enhancement of the underlying process (i.e., an increase of target-P3). However, an unsuccessful synchronization between tACS and EEG activity might also result in a decrease in the evoked-delta activity during cue-P3. Further studies are needed to optimize the parameters of endogenous activity and tACS synchronization. The implications of the current results for future studies, including clinical studies, are further discussed since transcranial alternating current stimulation can be individually tailored based on endogenous event-related P3 to modulate responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Augusto J. Mendes
- Geneva Memory Center, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging of Aging (LANVIE), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Alberto Lema
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Translational Neuropsychology Lab, Department of Education and Psychology, William James Center for Research (WJCR), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jorge Leite
- CINTESIS@RISE, CINTESIS.UPT, Universidade Portucalense Infante D. Henrique, Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Zhao Z, Shirinpour S, Tran H, Wischnewski M, Opitz A. intensity- and frequency-specific effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation are explained by network dynamics. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:026024. [PMID: 38530297 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad37d9] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Objective. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can be used to non-invasively entrain neural activity and thereby cause changes in local neural oscillatory power. Despite its increased use in cognitive and clinical neuroscience, the fundamental mechanisms of tACS are still not fully understood.Approach. We developed a computational neuronal network model of two-compartment pyramidal neurons (PY) and inhibitory interneurons, which mimic the local cortical circuits. We modeled tACS with electric field strengths that are achievable in human applications. We then simulated intrinsic network activity and measured neural entrainment to investigate how tACS modulates ongoing endogenous oscillations.Main results. The intensity-specific effects of tACS are non-linear. At low intensities (<0.3 mV mm-1), tACS desynchronizes neural firing relative to the endogenous oscillations. At higher intensities (>0.3 mV mm-1), neurons are entrained to the exogenous electric field. We then further explore the stimulation parameter space and find that the entrainment of ongoing cortical oscillations also depends on stimulation frequency by following an Arnold tongue. Moreover, neuronal networks can amplify the tACS-induced entrainment via synaptic coupling and network effects. Our model shows that PY are directly entrained by the exogenous electric field and drive the inhibitory neurons.Significance. The results presented in this study provide a mechanistic framework for understanding the intensity- and frequency-specific effects of oscillating electric fields on neuronal networks. This is crucial for rational parameter selection for tACS in cognitive studies and clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhihe Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Sina Shirinpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Harry Tran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Miles Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wischnewski M, Berger TA, Opitz A, Alekseichuk I. Causal functional maps of brain rhythms in working memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318528121. [PMID: 38536752 PMCID: PMC10998564 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318528121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Human working memory is a key cognitive process that engages multiple functional anatomical nodes across the brain. Despite a plethora of correlative neuroimaging evidence regarding the working memory architecture, our understanding of critical hubs causally controlling overall performance is incomplete. Causal interpretation requires cognitive testing following safe, temporal, and controllable neuromodulation of specific functional anatomical nodes. Such experiments became available in healthy humans with the advance of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Here, we synthesize findings of 28 placebo-controlled studies (in total, 1,057 participants) that applied frequency-specific noninvasive stimulation of neural oscillations and examined working memory performance in neurotypical adults. We use a computational meta-modeling method to simulate each intervention in realistic virtual brains and test reported behavioral outcomes against the stimulation-induced electric fields in different brain nodes. Our results show that stimulating anterior frontal and medial temporal theta oscillations and occipitoparietal gamma rhythms leads to significant dose-dependent improvement in working memory task performance. Conversely, prefrontal gamma modulation is detrimental to performance. Moreover, we found distinct spatial expression of theta subbands, where working memory changes followed orbitofrontal high-theta modulation and medial temporal low-theta modulation. Finally, all these results are driven by changes in working memory accuracy rather than processing time measures. These findings provide a fresh view of the working memory mechanisms, complementary to neuroimaging research, and propose hypothesis-driven targets for the clinical treatment of working memory deficits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN55455
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen9712TS, The Netherlands
| | - Taylor A. Berger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Ivan Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN55455
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Libri I, Cantoni V, Benussi A, Rivolta J, Ferrari C, Fancellu R, Synofzik M, Alberici A, Padovani A, Borroni B. Comparing Cerebellar tDCS and Cerebellar tACS in Neurodegenerative Ataxias Using Wearable Sensors: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled, Triple-Crossover Trial. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:570-578. [PMID: 37349632 PMCID: PMC10951038 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01578-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) represents a promising therapeutic approach for both motor and cognitive symptoms in neurodegenerative ataxias. Recently, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) was also demonstrated to modulate cerebellar excitability by neuronal entrainment. To compare the effectiveness of cerebellar tDCS vs. cerebellar tACS in patients with neurodegenerative ataxia, we performed a double-blind, randomized, sham controlled, triple cross-over trial with cerebellar tDCS, cerebellar tACS or sham stimulation in twenty-six participants with neurodegenerative ataxia. Before entering the study, each participant underwent motor assessment with wearable sensors considering gait cadence (steps/minute), turn velocity (degrees/second) and turn duration (seconds), and a clinical evaluation with the scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). After each intervention, participants underwent the same clinical assessment along with cerebellar inhibition (CBI) measurement, a marker of cerebellar activity. The gait cadence, turn velocity, SARA, and ICARS significantly improved after both tDCS and tACS, compared to sham stimulation (all p<0.010). Comparable effects were observed for CBI (p<0.001). Overall, tDCS significantly outperformed tACS on clinical scales and CBI (p<0.01). A significant correlation between changes of wearable sensors parameters from baseline and changes of clinical scales and CBI scores was detected. Cerebellar tDCS and cerebellar tACS are effective in ameliorating symptoms of neurodegenerative ataxias, with the former being more beneficial than the latter. Wearable sensors may serve as rater-unbiased outcome measures in future clinical trials. ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: NCT05621200.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Libri
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Jasmine Rivolta
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Camilla Ferrari
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberto Fancellu
- UO Neurologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Centre of Neurology, Tübingen, Germany
- German Research Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Antonella Alberici
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Brus J, Heng JA, Beliaeva V, Gonzalez Pinto F, Cassarà AM, Neufeld E, Grueschow M, Imbach L, Polanía R. Causal phase-dependent control of non-spatial attention in human prefrontal cortex. Nat Hum Behav 2024; 8:743-757. [PMID: 38366104 PMCID: PMC11045450 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01820-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Non-spatial attention is a fundamental cognitive mechanism that allows organisms to orient the focus of conscious awareness towards sensory information that is relevant to a behavioural goal while shifting it away from irrelevant stimuli. It has been suggested that attention is regulated by the ongoing phase of slow excitability fluctuations of neural activity in the prefrontal cortex, a hypothesis that has been challenged with no consensus. Here we developed a behavioural and non-invasive stimulation paradigm aiming at modulating slow excitability fluctuations of the inferior frontal junction. Using this approach, we show that non-spatial attention can be selectively modulated as a function of the ongoing phase of exogenously modulated excitability states of this brain structure. These results demonstrate that non-spatial attention relies on ongoing prefrontal excitability states, which are probably regulated by slow oscillatory dynamics, that orchestrate goal-oriented behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Brus
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Joseph A Heng
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Valeriia Beliaeva
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabian Gonzalez Pinto
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Antonino Mario Cassarà
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Esra Neufeld
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Grueschow
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Imbach
- Swiss Epilepsy Center (Klinik Lengg), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rafael Polanía
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Manippa V, Palmisano A, Nitsche MA, Filardi M, Vilella D, Logroscino G, Rivolta D. Cognitive and Neuropathophysiological Outcomes of Gamma-tACS in Dementia: A Systematic Review. Neuropsychol Rev 2024; 34:338-361. [PMID: 36877327 PMCID: PMC10920470 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-023-09589-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite the numerous pharmacological interventions targeting dementia, no disease-modifying therapy is available, and the prognosis remains unfavorable. A promising perspective involves tackling high-frequency gamma-band (> 30 Hz) oscillations involved in hippocampal-mediated memory processes, which are impaired from the early stages of typical Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Particularly, the positive effects of gamma-band entrainment on mouse models of AD have prompted researchers to translate such findings into humans using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), a methodology that allows the entrainment of endogenous cortical oscillations in a frequency-specific manner. This systematic review examines the state-of-the-art on the use of gamma-tACS in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia patients to shed light on its feasibility, therapeutic impact, and clinical effectiveness. A systematic search from two databases yielded 499 records resulting in 10 included studies and a total of 273 patients. The results were arranged in single-session and multi-session protocols. Most of the studies demonstrated cognitive improvement following gamma-tACS, and some studies showed promising effects of gamma-tACS on neuropathological markers, suggesting the feasibility of gamma-tACS in these patients anyhow far from the strong evidence available for mouse models. Nonetheless, the small number of studies and their wide variability in terms of aims, parameters, and measures, make it difficult to draw firm conclusions. We discuss results and methodological limitations of the studies, proposing possible solutions and future avenues to improve research on the effects of gamma-tACS on dementia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Manippa
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
| | - Annalisa Palmisano
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Marco Filardi
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Davide Vilella
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Davide Rivolta
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Huang X, Wei X, Wang J, Yi G. Frequency-dependent membrane polarization across neocortical cell types and subcellular elements by transcranial alternating current stimulation. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:016034. [PMID: 38382101 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad2b8a] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Objective.Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that directly interacts with ongoing brain oscillations in a frequency-dependent manner. However, it remains largely unclear how the cellular effects of tACS vary between cell types and subcellular elements.Approach.In this study, we use a set of morphologically realistic models of neocortical neurons to simulate the cellular response to uniform oscillating electric fields (EFs). We systematically characterize the membrane polarization in the soma, axons, and dendrites with varying field directions, intensities, and frequencies.Main results.Pyramidal cells are more sensitive to axial EF that is roughly parallel to the cortical column, while interneurons are sensitive to axial EF and transverse EF that is tangent to the cortical surface. Membrane polarization in each subcellular element increases linearly with EF intensity, and its slope, i.e. polarization length, highly depends on the stimulation frequency. At each frequency, pyramidal cells are more polarized than interneurons. Axons usually experience the highest polarization, followed by the dendrites and soma. Moreover, a visible frequency resonance presents in the apical dendrites of pyramidal cells, while the other subcellular elements primarily exhibit low-pass filtering properties. In contrast, each subcellular element of interneurons exhibits complex frequency-dependent polarization. Polarization phase in each subcellular element of cortical neurons lags that of field and exhibits high-pass filtering properties. These results demonstrate that the membrane polarization is not only frequency-dependent, but also cell type- and subcellular element-specific. Through relating effective length and ion mechanism with polarization, we emphasize the crucial role of cell morphology and biophysics in determining the frequency-dependent membrane polarization.Significance.Our findings highlight the diverse polarization patterns across cell types as well as subcellular elements, which provide some insights into the tACS cellular effects and should be considered when understanding the neural spiking activity by tACS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Huang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Xile Wei
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang Wang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Guosheng Yi
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Wischnewski M, Tran H, Zhao Z, Shirinpour S, Haigh ZJ, Rotteveel J, Perera ND, Alekseichuk I, Zimmermann J, Opitz A. Induced neural phase precession through exogenous electric fields. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1687. [PMID: 38402188 PMCID: PMC10894208 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45898-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The gradual shifting of preferred neural spiking relative to local field potentials (LFPs), known as phase precession, plays a prominent role in neural coding. Correlations between the phase precession and behavior have been observed throughout various brain regions. As such, phase precession is suggested to be a global neural mechanism that promotes local neuroplasticity. However, causal evidence and neuroplastic mechanisms of phase precession are lacking so far. Here we show a causal link between LFP dynamics and phase precession. In three experiments, we modulated LFPs in humans, a non-human primate, and computational models using alternating current stimulation. We show that continuous stimulation of motor cortex oscillations in humans lead to a gradual phase shift of maximal corticospinal excitability by ~90°. Further, exogenous alternating current stimulation induced phase precession in a subset of entrained neurons (~30%) in the non-human primate. Multiscale modeling of realistic neural circuits suggests that alternating current stimulation-induced phase precession is driven by NMDA-mediated synaptic plasticity. Altogether, the three experiments provide mechanistic and causal evidence for phase precession as a global neocortical process. Alternating current-induced phase precession and consequently synaptic plasticity is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic neuromodulation methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Harry Tran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zhihe Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sina Shirinpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zachary J Haigh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jonna Rotteveel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nipun D Perera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ivan Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jan Zimmermann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Verma AK, Nandakumar B, Acedillo K, Yu Y, Marshall E, Schneck D, Fiecas M, Wang J, MacKinnon CD, Howell MJ, Vitek JL, Johnson LA. Slow-wave sleep dysfunction in mild parkinsonism is associated with excessive beta and reduced delta oscillations in motor cortex. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1338624. [PMID: 38449736 PMCID: PMC10915200 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1338624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests slow-wave sleep (SWS) dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with faster disease progression, cognitive impairment, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Beta oscillations (8-35 Hz) in the basal ganglia thalamocortical (BGTC) network are thought to play a role in the development of cardinal motor signs of PD. The role cortical beta oscillations play in SWS dysfunction in the early stage of parkinsonism is not understood, however. To address this question, we used a within-subject design in a nonhuman primate (NHP) model of PD to record local field potentials from the primary motor cortex (MC) during sleep across normal and mild parkinsonian states. The MC is a critical node in the BGTC network, exhibits pathological oscillations with depletion in dopamine tone, and displays high amplitude slow oscillations during SWS. The MC is therefore an appropriate recording site to understand the neurophysiology of SWS dysfunction in parkinsonism. We observed a reduction in SWS quantity (p = 0.027) in the parkinsonian state compared to normal. The cortical delta (0.5-3 Hz) power was reduced (p = 0.038) whereas beta (8-35 Hz) power was elevated (p = 0.001) during SWS in the parkinsonian state compared to normal. Furthermore, SWS quantity positively correlated with delta power (r = 0.43, p = 0.037) and negatively correlated with beta power (r = -0.65, p < 0.001). Our findings support excessive beta oscillations as a mechanism for SWS dysfunction in mild parkinsonism and could inform the development of neuromodulation therapies for enhancing SWS in people with PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ajay K. Verma
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Bharadwaj Nandakumar
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Kit Acedillo
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Ying Yu
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Ethan Marshall
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - David Schneck
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Mark Fiecas
- Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Colum D. MacKinnon
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Michael J. Howell
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jerrold L. Vitek
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Luke A. Johnson
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Shtoots L, Nadler A, Partouche R, Sharir D, Rothstein A, Shati L, Levy DA. Frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memory. NPJ SCIENCE OF LEARNING 2024; 9:8. [PMID: 38365886 PMCID: PMC10873319 DOI: 10.1038/s41539-024-00222-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Evidence implicating theta rhythms in declarative memory encoding and retrieval, together with the notion that both retrieval and consolidation involve memory reinstatement or replay, suggests that post-learning theta rhythm modulation can promote early consolidation of newly formed memories. Building on earlier work employing theta neurofeedback, we examined whether theta-frequency transcranial alternating stimulation (tACS) can engender effective consolidation of newly formed episodic memories, compared with beta frequency stimulation or sham control conditions. We compared midline frontal and posterior parietal theta stimulation montages and examined whether benefits to memory of theta upregulation are attributable to consolidation rather than to retrieval processes by using a washout period to eliminate tACS after-effects between stimulation and memory assessment. Four groups of participants viewed object pictures followed by a free recall test during three study-test cycles. They then engaged in tACS (frontal theta montage/parietal theta montage/frontal beta montage/sham) for a period of 20 min, followed by a 2-h break. Free recall assessments were conducted after the break, 24 h later, and 7 days later. Frontal midline theta-tACS induced significant off-line retrieval gains at all assessment time points relative to all other conditions. This indicates that theta upregulation provides optimal conditions for the consolidation of episodic memory, independent of mental-state strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Limor Shtoots
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, 4610101, Israel
| | - Asher Nadler
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, 4610101, Israel
| | - Roni Partouche
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, 4610101, Israel
| | - Dorin Sharir
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, 4610101, Israel
| | - Aryeh Rothstein
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, 4610101, Israel
| | - Liran Shati
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, 4610101, Israel
| | - Daniel A Levy
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, 4610101, Israel.
- Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Soto-Icaza P, Soto-Fernández P, Kausel L, Márquez-Rodríguez V, Carvajal-Paredes P, Martínez-Molina MP, Figueroa-Vargas A, Billeke P. Oscillatory activity underlying cognitive performance in children and adolescents with autism: a systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1320761. [PMID: 38384334 PMCID: PMC10879575 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1320761] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that exhibits a widely heterogeneous range of social and cognitive symptoms. This feature has challenged a broad comprehension of this neurodevelopmental disorder and therapeutic efforts to address its difficulties. Current therapeutic strategies have focused primarily on treating behavioral symptoms rather than on brain psychophysiology. During the past years, the emergence of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (NIBS) has opened alternatives to the design of potential combined treatments focused on the neurophysiopathology of neuropsychiatric disorders like ASD. Such interventions require identifying the key brain mechanisms underlying the symptomatology and cognitive features. Evidence has shown alterations in oscillatory features of the neural ensembles associated with cognitive functions in ASD. In this line, we elaborated a systematic revision of the evidence of alterations in brain oscillations that underlie key cognitive processes that have been shown to be affected in ASD during childhood and adolescence, namely, social cognition, attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. This knowledge could contribute to developing therapies based on NIBS to improve these processes in populations with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Soto-Icaza
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Leonie Kausel
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología (CENHN), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Víctor Márquez-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricio Carvajal-Paredes
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Paz Martínez-Molina
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra Figueroa-Vargas
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory for Cognitive and Evolutionary Neuroscience (LaNCE), Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Billeke
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Cabral-Calderin Y, van Hinsberg D, Thielscher A, Henry MJ. Behavioral entrainment to rhythmic auditory stimulation can be modulated by tACS depending on the electrical stimulation field properties. eLife 2024; 12:RP87820. [PMID: 38289225 PMCID: PMC10945705 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Synchronization between auditory stimuli and brain rhythms is beneficial for perception. In principle, auditory perception could be improved by facilitating neural entrainment to sounds via brain stimulation. However, high inter-individual variability of brain stimulation effects questions the usefulness of this approach. Here we aimed to modulate auditory perception by modulating neural entrainment to frequency modulated (FM) sounds using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). In addition, we evaluated the advantage of using tACS montages spatially optimized for each individual's anatomy and functional data compared to a standard montage applied to all participants. Across two different sessions, 2 Hz tACS was applied targeting auditory brain regions. Concurrent with tACS, participants listened to FM stimuli with modulation rate matching the tACS frequency but with different phase lags relative to the tACS, and detected silent gaps embedded in the FM sound. We observed that tACS modulated the strength of behavioral entrainment to the FM sound in a phase-lag specific manner. Both the optimal tACS lag and the magnitude of the tACS effect were variable across participants and sessions. Inter-individual variability of tACS effects was best explained by the strength of the inward electric field, depending on the field focality and proximity to the target brain region. Although additional evidence is necessary, our results also provided suggestive insights that spatially optimizing the electrode montage could be a promising tool to reduce inter-individual variability of tACS effects. This work demonstrates that tACS effectively modulates entrainment to sounds depending on the optimality of the electric field. However, the lack of reliability on optimal tACS lags calls for caution when planning tACS experiments based on separate sessions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Axel Thielscher
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and HvidovreCopenhagenDenmark
- Section for Magnetic Resonance, DTU Health Tech, Technical University of DenmarkCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Molly J Henry
- Max Planck Institute for Empirical AestheticsFrankfurtGermany
- Toronto Metropolitan UniversityTorontoCanada
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wang J, Choi KY, Thompson B, Chan HHL, Cheong AMY. The effect of montages of transcranial alternating current stimulation on occipital responses-a sham-controlled pilot study. Front Psychiatry 2024; 14:1273044. [PMID: 38328519 PMCID: PMC10849049 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1273044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Transcranial alternative current stimulation (tACS) refers to a promising non-invasive technique to improve brain functions. However, owing to various stimulation parameters in the literature, optimization of the stimulation is warranted. In this study, the authors aimed to compare the effect of tACS electrode montages on occipital responses. Methods In three montage sessions (i.e., Oz-Cz, Oz-cheek, and sham), 10 healthy young adults participated, receiving 20-min 2-mA alpha-tACS. Pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were measured before tACS (T0), immediately after (T20), and 20 min (T40) after tACS. Normalized changes in time-domain features (i.e., N75, P100 amplitudes, and P100 latency) and frequency-domain features [i.e., power spectral density in alpha (PSDα) and beta (PSDβ) bands] were evaluated. Results In contrast to our hypothesis, the occipital response decreased immediately (T20) after receiving the 20-min tACS in all montages in terms of P100 amplitude (p = 0.01). This reduction returned to baseline level (T0) in Oz-cheek and sham conditions but sustained in the Oz-Cz condition (T40, p = 0.03) after 20 min of tACS. The effects on N75 amplitude and P100 latency were statistically insignificant. For spectral analysis, both PSDα and PSDβ were significantly increased after tACS at T20, in which the effect sustained until T40. However, there was no differential effect by montages. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of sensations across the montages. The effectiveness of the blinding is supported by the participants' rate of guessing correctly. Conclusion This study revealed an immediate inhibitory effect of tACS, regardless of the montages. This inhibitory effect sustained in the Oz-Cz montage but faded out in other montages after 20 min.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Wang
- School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Kai Yip Choi
- School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Benjamin Thompson
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Henry Ho Lung Chan
- School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Allen Ming Yan Cheong
- School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Cruciani A, Pellegrino G, Todisco A, Motolese F, Sferruzzi M, Norata D, Santoro F, Musumeci G, Rossi M, Pilato F, Di Lazzaro V, Capone F. High-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation matching individual frequency of somatosensory evoked high-frequency oscillations can modulate the somatosensory system through thalamocortical pathway. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad481. [PMID: 38100323 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad481] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
tACS (transcranial alternating current stimulation) is a technique for modulating brain activity through electrical current. Its effects depend on cortical entrainment, which is most effective when transcranial alternating current stimulation matches the brain's natural rhythm. High-frequency oscillations produced by external stimuli are useful for studying the somatosensory pathway. Our study aims to explore transcranial alternating current stimulation's impact on the somatosensory system when synchronized with individual high-frequency oscillation frequencies. We conducted a randomized, sham-controlled study with 14 healthy participants. The study had three phases: Individualized transcranial alternating current stimulation (matching the individual's high-frequency oscillation rhythm), Standard transcranial alternating current stimulation (600 Hz), and sham stimulation. We measured early and late HFO components after median nerve electrical stimulation at three time points: before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 10 min after transcranial alternating current stimulation (T2). Compared to Sham and Standard stimulation Individualized transcranial alternating current stimulation significantly enhanced high-frequency oscillations, especially the early component, immediately after stimulation and for at least 15 min. No other effects were observed for other high-frequency oscillation measures. In summary, our study provides initial evidence that transcranial alternating current stimulation synchronized with an individual's high-frequency oscillation frequency can precisely and time-specifically modulate thalamocortical activity. These insights may pave the way for innovative, personalized neuromodulation methods for the somatosensory system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cruciani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
| | - Giovanni Pellegrino
- Epilepsy Program, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Antonio Todisco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
| | - Francesco Motolese
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
| | - Marco Sferruzzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
| | - Davide Norata
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
- Neurological Clinic, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine (DIMSC), Marche Polytechnic University, 60121 Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesca Santoro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
| | - Gabriella Musumeci
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Rossi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
| | - Fabio Pilato
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
| | - Fioravante Capone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, Roma 21-00128, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo Roma 200-00128, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
He Q, Zhu X, Fang F. Enhancing visual perceptual learning using transcranial electrical stimulation: Transcranial alternating current stimulation outperforms both transcranial direct current and random noise stimulation. J Vis 2023; 23:2. [PMID: 38054934 PMCID: PMC10702794 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.14.2] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Diverse strategies can be employed to enhance visual skills, including visual perceptual learning (VPL) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES). Combining VPL and tES is a popular method that holds promise for producing significant improvements in visual acuity within a short time frame. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive evaluation regarding the effects of combining different types of tES and VPL on enhancing visual function, especially with a larger sample size. In the present study, we recruited four groups of subjects (26 subjects each) to learn an orientation discrimination task with five daily training sessions. During training, the occipital region of each subject was stimulated by one type of tES-anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), alternating current stimulation (tACS) at 10 Hz, high-frequency random noise stimulation (tRNS), and sham tACS-while the subject performed the training task. We found that, compared with the sham stimulation, both the high-frequency tRNS and the 10-Hz tACS facilitated VPL efficiently in terms of learning rate and performance improvement, but there was little modulatory effect in the anodal tDCS condition. Remarkably, the 10-Hz tACS condition exhibited superior modulatory effects compared with the tRNS condition, demonstrating the strongest modulation among the most commonly used tES types for further enhancing vision when combined with VPL. Our results suggest that alpha oscillations play a vital role in VPL. Our study provides a practical guide for vision rehabilitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing He
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Machine Perception, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Zhu
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Machine Perception, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Fang
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Machine Perception, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
De Koninck BP, Brazeau D, Guay S, Herrero Babiloni A, De Beaumont L. Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation to Modulate Alpha Activity: A Systematic Review. Neuromodulation 2023; 26:1549-1584. [PMID: 36725385 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2022.12.007] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has been one of numerous investigation methods used for their potential to modulate brain oscillations; however, such investigations have given contradictory results and a lack of standardization. OBJECTIVES In this systematic review, we aimed to assess the potential of tACS to modulate alpha spectral power. The secondary outcome was the identification of tACS methodologic key parameters, adverse effects, and sensations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Studies in healthy adults who were receiving active and sham tACS intervention or any differential condition were included. The main outcome assessed was the increase/decrease of alpha spectral power through either electroencephalography or magnetoencephalography. Secondary outcomes were methodologic parameters, sensation reporting, and adverse effects. Risks of bias and the study quality were assessed with the Cochrane assessment tool. RESULTS We obtained 1429 references, and 20 met the selection criteria. A statistically significant alpha-power increase was observed in nine studies using continuous tACS stimulation and two using intermittent tACS stimulation set at a frequency within the alpha range. A statistically significant alpha-power increase was observed in three more studies using a stimulation frequency outside the alpha range. Heterogeneity among stimulation parameters was recognized. Reported adverse effects were mild. The implementation of double blind was identified as challenging using tACS, in part owing to electrical artifacts generated by stimulation on the recorded signal. CONCLUSIONS Most assessed studies reported that tACS has the potential to modulate brain alpha power. The optimization of this noninvasive brain stimulation method is of interest mostly for its potential clinical applications with neurological conditions associated with perturbations in alpha brain activity. However, more research efforts are needed to standardize optimal parameters to achieve lasting modulation effects, develop methodologic alternatives to reduce experimental bias, and improve the quality of studies using tACS to modulate brain activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice P De Koninck
- Sports and Trauma Applied Research Lab, Montreal Sacred Heart Hospital, CIUSSS North-Montreal-Island, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; University of Montreal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Daphnée Brazeau
- Sports and Trauma Applied Research Lab, Montreal Sacred Heart Hospital, CIUSSS North-Montreal-Island, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; University of Montreal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Samuel Guay
- Sports and Trauma Applied Research Lab, Montreal Sacred Heart Hospital, CIUSSS North-Montreal-Island, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; University of Montreal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alberto Herrero Babiloni
- Sports and Trauma Applied Research Lab, Montreal Sacred Heart Hospital, CIUSSS North-Montreal-Island, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; University of Montreal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Louis De Beaumont
- Sports and Trauma Applied Research Lab, Montreal Sacred Heart Hospital, CIUSSS North-Montreal-Island, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; University of Montreal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Zhang R, Ren J, Zhang C. Efficacy of transcranial alternating current stimulation for schizophrenia treatment: A systematic review. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 168:52-63. [PMID: 37897837 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.10.021] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is an innovative noninvasive technique in brain stimulation that involves applying a low-intensity electrical current to the scalp. And increasing evidence has revealed its potential in schizophrenia treatment. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tACS as a novel neurostimulation technique for improving cognitive impairment and alleviating psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. Additionally, this review attempted to explore the impact of stimulation parameters on the effectiveness of tACS treatment. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted across five databases, including Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, CENTRAL, and PsycINFO, to identify studies investigating the use of tACS in schizophrenia. Only studies that involved the experimental use of tACS in patients with schizophrenia were included in this review. RESULTS Nineteen studies were included in this review. The most frequently used current intensities were 2 mA and 1 mA, and the most commonly used frequencies were alpha (10 Hz), theta (4.5 Hz and 6 Hz), and gamma (40 Hz). Some studies showed that tACS may have a potential therapeutic effect by improving cognitive functions in various cognitive domains and/or ameliorating negative symptoms, hallucinations, and delusions in patients with schizophrenia, while others showed no significant change. These studies also implicated that tACS treatment is safe and well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this systematic review suggests that tACS has promise as a novel, effective, and adjunctive treatment approach for treating schizophrenia. Future research is needed to determine the optimal parameters of tACS for treating this complex disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Juanjuan Ren
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Chen Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Liu S, He Y, Guo D, Liu X, Hao X, Hu P, Ming D. Transcranial alternating current stimulation ameliorates emotional attention through neural oscillations modulation. Cogn Neurodyn 2023; 17:1473-1483. [PMID: 37969947 PMCID: PMC10640550 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-022-09880-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous clinical reports have suggested that psychopathy like schizophrenia, anxiety and depression is accompanied by early attentional abnormalities in emotional processing. Recently, the efficacy of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in changing emotional functioning has been repeatedly observed and demonstrated a causal relationship between endogenous oscillations and emotional processing. Aims Up to now, tACS effects on emotional attention have not yet been tested. To assess such ability, we delivered active-tACS at individual alpha frequency (IAF), 10 Hz or sham-tACS for 7 consecutive days in the bilaterally dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) to totally 79 healthy participants. Results IAF-tACS group showed significant alpha entrainment at-rest, especially in open state around stimulation area and showed an obvious advantage compared to 10 Hz-tACS. Event-related potential revealed a significant larger P200 amplitude after active-tACS and IAF group showed wider range of emotions than 10 Hz-tACS, indicating the attentional improvement in facial emotion processing. A notable positive correlation between alpha power and P200 amplitude provided an electrophysiological interpretation regarding the role of tACS in emotional attention modulation instead of somatosensory effects. Conclusion These results support a seminal outcome for the effect of IAF-tACS on emotional attention modulation, demonstrating a feasible and individual-specific therapy for neuropsychiatric disorders related to emotion processing, especially regarding oscillatory disturbances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Liu
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Yuchen He
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Dongyue Guo
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoya Liu
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyu Hao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Pengchong Hu
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Dong Ming
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 300072 Tianjin, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, 300072 Tianjin, China
- Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Neural Engineering, 300072 Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Farahani F, Khadka N, Parra LC, Bikson M, Vöröslakos M. Transcranial electric stimulation modulates firing rate at clinically relevant intensities. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.24.568618. [PMID: 38045400 PMCID: PMC10690262 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.24.568618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Notwithstanding advances with low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (TES), there remain questions about the efficacy of clinically realistic electric fields on neuronal function. We used Neuropixels 2.0 probe with 384 channels in an in-vivo rat model of TES to detect effects of weak fields on neuronal firing rate. High-density field mapping and computational models verified field intensity (1 V/m in hippocampus per 50 μA of applied skull currents). We demonstrate that electric fields below 0.5 V/m acutely modulate firing rate in 5% of neurons recorded in the hippocampus. At these intensities, average firing rate effects increased monotonically with electric field intensity at a rate of 7 % per V/m. For the majority of excitatory neurons, firing increased for cathodal stimulation and diminished for anodal stimulation. While more diverse, the response of inhibitory neurons followed a similar pattern on average, likely as a result of excitatory drive. Our results indicate that responses to TES at clinically relevant intensities are driven by a fraction of high-responder excitatory neurons, with polarity-specific effects. We conclude that transcranial electric stimulation is an effective neuromodulator at clinically realistic intensities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Forouzan Farahani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Niranjan Khadka
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lucas C. Parra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marom Bikson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mihály Vöröslakos
- Neuroscience Institute and Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Kang Q, Lang EJ, Sahin M. Transsynaptic entrainment of cerebellar nuclear cells by alternating currents in a frequency dependent manner. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1282322. [PMID: 38027520 PMCID: PMC10667418 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1282322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that is being tested clinically for treatment of a variety of neural disorders. Animal studies investigating the underlying mechanisms of tACS are scarce, and nearly absent in the cerebellum. In the present study, we applied 10-400 Hz alternating currents (AC) to the cerebellar cortex in ketamine/xylazine anesthetized rats. The spiking activity of cerebellar nuclear (CN) cells was transsynaptically entrained to the frequency of AC stimulation in an intensity and frequency-dependent manner. Interestingly, there was a tuning curve for modulation where the frequencies in the midrange (100 and 150 Hz) were more effective, although the stimulation frequency for maximum modulation differed for each CN cell with slight dependence on the stimulation amplitude. CN spikes were entrained with latencies of a few milliseconds with respect to the AC stimulation cycle. These short latencies and that the transsynaptic modulation of the CN cells can occur at such high frequencies strongly suggests that PC simple spike synchrony at millisecond time scales is the underlying mechanism for CN cell entrainment. These results show that subthreshold AC stimulation can induce such PC spike synchrony without resorting to supra-threshold pulse stimulation for precise timing. Transsynaptic entrainment of deep CN cells via cortical stimulation could help keep stimulation currents within safety limits in tACS applications, allowing development of tACS as an alternative treatment to deep cerebellar stimulation. Our results also provide a possible explanation for human trials of cerebellar stimulation where the functional impacts of tACS were frequency dependent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Kang
- Biomedical Engineering Department, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Eric J. Lang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Mesut Sahin
- Biomedical Engineering Department, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Lee S, Shirinpour S, Alekseichuk I, Perera N, Linn G, Schroeder CE, Falchier AY, Opitz A. Predicting the phase distribution during multi-channel transcranial alternating current stimulation in silico and in vivo. Comput Biol Med 2023; 166:107516. [PMID: 37769460 PMCID: PMC10955626 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a widely used noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique to affect neural activity. TACS experiments have been coupled with computational simulations to predict the electromagnetic fields within the brain. However, existing simulations are focused on the magnitude of the field. As the possibility of inducing the phase gradient in the brain using multiple tACS electrodes arises, a simulation framework is necessary to investigate and predict the phase gradient of electric fields during multi-channel tACS. OBJECTIVE Here, we develop such a framework for phasor simulation using phasor algebra and evaluate its accuracy using in vivo recordings in monkeys. METHODS We extract the phase and amplitude of electric fields from intracranial recordings in two monkeys during multi-channel tACS and compare them to those calculated by phasor analysis using finite element models. RESULTS Our findings demonstrate that simulated phases correspond well to measured phases (r = 0.9). Further, we systematically evaluated the impact of accurate electrode placement on modeling and data agreement. Finally, our framework can predict the amplitude distribution in measurements given calibrated tissues' conductivity. CONCLUSIONS Our validated general framework for simulating multi-phase, multi-electrode tACS provides a streamlined tool for principled planning of multi-channel tACS experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sangjun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, MN, USA.
| | - Sina Shirinpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
| | - Ivan Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
| | - Nipun Perera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
| | - Gary Linn
- Translational Neuroscience Lab Division, Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Charles E Schroeder
- Translational Neuroscience Lab Division, Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Departments of Neurological Surgery and Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, NY, USA
| | - Arnaud Y Falchier
- Translational Neuroscience Lab Division, Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, MN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Violante IR, Alania K, Cassarà AM, Neufeld E, Acerbo E, Carron R, Williamson A, Kurtin DL, Rhodes E, Hampshire A, Kuster N, Boyden ES, Pascual-Leone A, Grossman N. Non-invasive temporal interference electrical stimulation of the human hippocampus. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1994-2004. [PMID: 37857775 PMCID: PMC10620081 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01456-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) via implanted electrodes is used worldwide to treat patients with severe neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, its invasiveness precludes widespread clinical use and deployment in research. Temporal interference (TI) is a strategy for non-invasive steerable DBS using multiple kHz-range electric fields with a difference frequency within the range of neural activity. Here we report the validation of the non-invasive DBS concept in humans. We used electric field modeling and measurements in a human cadaver to verify that the locus of the transcranial TI stimulation can be steerably focused in the hippocampus with minimal exposure to the overlying cortex. We then used functional magnetic resonance imaging and behavioral experiments to show that TI stimulation can focally modulate hippocampal activity and enhance the accuracy of episodic memories in healthy humans. Our results demonstrate targeted, non-invasive electrical stimulation of deep structures in the human brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines R Violante
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
| | - Ketevan Alania
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Antonino M Cassarà
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Esra Neufeld
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Emma Acerbo
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM, Marseille, France
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Romain Carron
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM, Marseille, France
- Department of Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France
| | - Adam Williamson
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM, Marseille, France
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Danielle L Kurtin
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Edward Rhodes
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Adam Hampshire
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Niels Kuster
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS), Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Edward S Boyden
- Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Media Arts and Sciences, and Biological Engineering, McGovern and Koch Institutes, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nir Grossman
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Wischnewski M, Tran H, Zhao Z, Shirinpour S, Haigh Z, Rotteveel J, Perera N, Alekseichuk I, Zimmermann J, Opitz A. Induced neural phase precession through exogeneous electric fields. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.31.535073. [PMID: 37034780 PMCID: PMC10081336 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.31.535073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
The gradual shifting of preferred neural spiking relative to local field potentials (LFPs), known as phase precession, plays a prominent role in neural coding. Correlations between the phase precession and behavior have been observed throughout various brain regions. As such, phase precession is suggested to be a global neural mechanism that promotes local neuroplasticity. However, causal evidence and neuroplastic mechanisms of phase precession are lacking so far. Here we show a causal link between LFP dynamics and phase precession. In three experiments, we modulated LFPs in humans, a non-human primate, and computational models using alternating current stimulation. We show that continuous stimulation of motor cortex oscillations in humans lead to a gradual phase shift of maximal corticospinal excitability by ~90°. Further, exogenous alternating current stimulation induced phase precession in a subset of entrained neurons (~30%) in the non-human primate. Multiscale modeling of realistic neural circuits suggests that alternating current stimulation-induced phase precession is driven by NMDA-mediated synaptic plasticity. Altogether, the three experiments provide mechanistic and causal evidence for phase precession as a global neocortical process. Alternating current-induced phase precession and consequently synaptic plasticity is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic neuromodulation methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - H. Tran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Z. Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - S. Shirinpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Z.J. Haigh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - J. Rotteveel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - N.D. Perera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - I. Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - J. Zimmermann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - A. Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Mantell KE, Perera ND, Shirinpour S, Puonti O, Xu T, Zimmermann J, Falchier A, Heilbronner SR, Thielscher A, Opitz A. Anatomical details affect electric field predictions for non-invasive brain stimulation in non-human primates. Neuroimage 2023; 279:120343. [PMID: 37619797 PMCID: PMC10961993 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-human primates (NHPs) have become key for translational research in noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS). However, in order to create comparable stimulation conditions for humans it is vital to study the accuracy of current modeling practices across species. Numerical models to simulate electric fields are an important tool for experimental planning in NHPs and translation to human studies. It is thus essential whether and to what extent the anatomical details of NHP models agree with current modeling practices when calculating NIBS electric fields. Here, we create highly accurate head models of two non-human primates (NHP) MR data. We evaluate how muscle tissue and head field of view (depending on MRI parameters) affect simulation results in transcranial electric and magnetic stimulation (TES and TMS). Our findings indicate that the inclusion of anisotropic muscle can affect TES electric field strength up to 22% while TMS is largely unaffected. Additionally, comparing a full head model to a cropped head model illustrates the impact of head field of view on electric fields for both TES and TMS. We find opposing effects between TES and TMS with an increase up to 24.8% for TES and a decrease up to 24.6% for TMS for the cropped head model compared to the full head model. Our results provide important insights into the level of anatomical detail needed for NHP head models and can inform future translational efforts for NIBS studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E Mantell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Nipun D Perera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Sina Shirinpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Oula Puonti
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ting Xu
- Center for the Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute, New York, USA
| | - Jan Zimmermann
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Arnaud Falchier
- Translational Neuroscience Lab Division, Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, 9 The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | | | - Axel Thielscher
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Pan R, Ye S, Zhong Y, Chen Q, Cai Y. Transcranial alternating current stimulation for the treatment of major depressive disorder: from basic mechanisms toward clinical applications. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1197393. [PMID: 37731669 PMCID: PMC10507344 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1197393] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-pharmacological treatment is essential for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) that is medication resistant or who are unable to take medications. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that manipulates neural oscillations. In recent years, tACS has attracted substantial attention for its potential as an MDD treatment. This review summarizes the latest advances in tACS treatment for MDD and outlines future directions for promoting its clinical application. We first introduce the neurophysiological mechanism of tACS and its novel developments. In particular, two well-validated tACS techniques have high application potential: high-definition tACS targeting local brain oscillations and bifocal tACS modulating interarea functional connectivity. Accordingly, we summarize the underlying mechanisms of tACS modulation for MDD. We sort out the local oscillation abnormalities within the reward network and the interarea oscillatory synchronizations among multiple MDD-related networks in MDD patients, which provide potential modulation targets of tACS interventions. Furthermore, we review the latest clinical studies on tACS treatment for MDD, which were based on different modulation mechanisms and reported alleviations in MDD symptoms. Finally, we discuss the main challenges of current tACS treatments for MDD and outline future directions to improve intervention target selection, tACS implementation, and clinical validations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruibo Pan
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shengfeng Ye
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yun Zhong
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiaozhen Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Cai
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Cruciani A, Mancuso M, Sveva V, Maccarrone D, Todisco A, Motolese F, Santoro F, Pilato F, Spampinato DA, Rocchi L, Di Lazzaro V, Capone F. Using TMS-EEG to assess the effects of neuromodulation techniques: a narrative review. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1247104. [PMID: 37645690 PMCID: PMC10461063 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1247104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, among all the non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, those aiming for neuromodulatory protocols have gained special attention. The traditional neurophysiological outcome to estimate the neuromodulatory effect is the motor evoked potential (MEP), the impact of NIBS techniques is commonly estimated as the change in MEP amplitude. This approach has several limitations: first, the use of MEP limits the evaluation of stimulation to the motor cortex excluding all the other brain areas. Second, MEP is an indirect measure of brain activity and is influenced by several factors. To overcome these limitations several studies have used new outcomes to measure brain changes after neuromodulation techniques with the concurrent use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalogram (EEG). In the present review, we examine studies that use TMS-EEG before and after a single session of neuromodulatory TMS. Then, we focused our literature research on the description of the different metrics derived from TMS-EEG to measure the effect of neuromodulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cruciani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Mancuso
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Sveva
- Department of Anatomical and Histological Sciences, Legal Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Maccarrone
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Todisco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Motolese
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Santoro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Pilato
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Rocchi
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Fioravante Capone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Soleimani G, Nitsche MA, Bergmann TO, Towhidkhah F, Violante IR, Lorenz R, Kuplicki R, Tsuchiyagaito A, Mulyana B, Mayeli A, Ghobadi-Azbari P, Mosayebi-Samani M, Zilverstand A, Paulus MP, Bikson M, Ekhtiari H. Closing the loop between brain and electrical stimulation: towards precision neuromodulation treatments. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:279. [PMID: 37582922 PMCID: PMC10427701 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02565-5] [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: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most critical challenges in using noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques for the treatment of psychiatric and neurologic disorders is inter- and intra-individual variability in response to NIBS. Response variations in previous findings suggest that the one-size-fits-all approach does not seem the most appropriate option for enhancing stimulation outcomes. While there is a growing body of evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of individualized NIBS approaches, the optimal way to achieve this is yet to be determined. Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is one of the NIBS techniques showing promising results in modulating treatment outcomes in several psychiatric and neurologic disorders, but it faces the same challenge for individual optimization. With new computational and methodological advances, tES can be integrated with real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI) to establish closed-loop tES-fMRI for individually optimized neuromodulation. Closed-loop tES-fMRI systems aim to optimize stimulation parameters based on minimizing differences between the model of the current brain state and the desired value to maximize the expected clinical outcome. The methodological space to optimize closed-loop tES fMRI for clinical applications includes (1) stimulation vs. data acquisition timing, (2) fMRI context (task-based or resting-state), (3) inherent brain oscillations, (4) dose-response function, (5) brain target trait and state and (6) optimization algorithm. Closed-loop tES-fMRI technology has several advantages over non-individualized or open-loop systems to reshape the future of neuromodulation with objective optimization in a clinically relevant context such as drug cue reactivity for substance use disorder considering both inter and intra-individual variations. Using multi-level brain and behavior measures as input and desired outcomes to individualize stimulation parameters provides a framework for designing personalized tES protocols in precision psychiatry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ghazaleh Soleimani
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Leibniz Research Center 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, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Til Ole Bergmann
- Neuroimaging Center, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Farzad Towhidkhah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ines R Violante
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guilford, UK
| | - Romy Lorenz
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- MRC CBU, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Neurophysics, MPI, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Beni Mulyana
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Ahmad Mayeli
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburg, PA, USA
| | - Peyman Ghobadi-Azbari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Mosayebi-Samani
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Anna Zilverstand
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Hamed Ekhtiari
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Herzog R, Bolte C, Radecke JO, von Möller K, Lencer R, Tzvi E, Münchau A, Bäumer T, Weissbach A. Neuronavigated Cerebellar 50 Hz tACS: Attenuation of Stimulation Effects by Motor Sequence Learning. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2218. [PMID: 37626715 PMCID: PMC10452137 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is an emerging non-invasive technique that induces electric fields to modulate cerebellar function. Although the effect of cortical tACS seems to be state-dependent, the impact of concurrent motor activation and the duration of stimulation on the effects of cerebellar tACS has not yet been examined. In our study, 20 healthy subjects received neuronavigated 50 Hz cerebellar tACS for 40 s or 20 min, each during performance using a motor sequence learning task (MSL) and at rest. We measured the motor evoked potential (MEP) before and at two time points after tACS application to assess corticospinal excitability. Additionally, we investigated the online effect of tACS on MSL. Individual electric field simulations were computed to evaluate the distribution of electric fields, showing a focal electric field in the right cerebellar hemisphere with the highest intensities in lobe VIIb, VIII and IX. Corticospinal excitability was only increased after tACS was applied for 40 s or 20 min at rest, and motor activation during tACS (MSL) cancelled this effect. In addition, performance was better (shorter reaction times) for the learned sequences after 20 min of tACS, indicating more pronounced learning under 20 min of tACS compared to tACS applied only in the first 40 s.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Herzog
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany; (R.H.); (C.B.)
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christina Bolte
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany; (R.H.); (C.B.)
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jan-Ole Radecke
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Kathinka von Möller
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany; (R.H.); (C.B.)
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Rebekka Lencer
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Elinor Tzvi
- Department of Neurology, Leipzig University, Liebigstraße 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Syte Institute, Hohe Bleichen 8, 20354 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Münchau
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany; (R.H.); (C.B.)
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Tobias Bäumer
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany; (R.H.); (C.B.)
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Anne Weissbach
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany; (R.H.); (C.B.)
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Potok W, van der Groen O, Sivachelvam S, Bächinger M, Fröhlich F, Kish LB, Wenderoth N. Contrast detection is enhanced by deterministic, high-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation with triangle and sine waveform. J Neurophysiol 2023; 130:458-473. [PMID: 37465880 PMCID: PMC10625838 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00465.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Stochastic resonance (SR) describes a phenomenon where an additive noise (stochastic carrier-wave) enhances the signal transmission in a nonlinear system. In the nervous system, nonlinear properties are present from the level of single ion channels all the way to perception and appear to support the emergence of SR. For example, SR has been repeatedly demonstrated for visual detection tasks, also by adding noise directly to cortical areas via transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS). When dealing with nonlinear physical systems, it has been suggested that resonance can be induced not only by adding stochastic signals (i.e., noise) but also by adding a large class of signals that are not stochastic in nature that cause "deterministic amplitude resonance" (DAR). Here, we mathematically show that high-frequency, deterministic, periodic signals can yield resonance-like effects with linear transfer and infinite signal-to-noise ratio at the output. We tested this prediction empirically and investigated whether nonrandom, high-frequency, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) applied to the visual cortex could induce resonance-like effects and enhance the performance of a visual detection task. We demonstrated in 28 participants that applying 80-Hz triangular-waves or sine-waves with tACS reduced the visual contrast detection threshold for optimal brain stimulation intensities. The influence of tACS on contrast sensitivity was equally effective to tRNS-induced modulation, demonstrating that both tACS and tRNS can reduce contrast detection thresholds. Our findings suggest that a resonance-like mechanism can also emerge when deterministic electrical waveforms are applied via tACS.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our findings extend our understanding of neuromodulation induced by noninvasive electrical stimulation. We provide the first evidence showing acute online benefits of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)triangle and tACSsine targeting the primary visual cortex (V1) on visual contrast detection in accordance with the resonance-like phenomenon. The "deterministic" tACS and "stochastic" high-frequency-transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) are equally effective in enhancing visual contrast detection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Potok
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, University and Balgrist Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Onno van der Groen
- Neurorehabilitation and Robotics Laboratory, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sahana Sivachelvam
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marc Bächinger
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, University and Balgrist Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavio Fröhlich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| | - Laszlo B Kish
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States
| | - Nicole Wenderoth
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, University and Balgrist Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Future Health Technologies, Singapore-ETH Centre, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Oh S, Song H, Slager N, Ruiz JRL, Park SY, Yoon E. Power-Efficient LFP-Adaptive Dynamic Zoom-and-Track Incremental ΔΣ Front-End for Dual-Band Subcortical Recordings. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS 2023; 17:741-753. [PMID: 37490369 DOI: 10.1109/tbcas.2023.3298662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
We report a power-efficient analog front-end integrated circuit (IC) for multi-channel, dual-band subcortical recordings. In order to achieve high-resolution multi-channel recordings with low power consumption, we implemented an incremental ΔΣ ADC (IADC) with a dynamic zoom-and-track scheme. This scheme continuously tracks local field potential (LFP) and adaptively adjusts the input dynamic range (DR) into a zoomed sub-LFP range to resolve tiny action potentials. Thanks to the reduced DR, the oversampling rate of the IADC can be reduced by 64.3% compared to the conventional approach, leading to significant power reduction. In addition, dual-band recording can be easily attained because the scheme continuously tracks LFPs without additional on-chip hardware. A prototype four-channel front-end IC has been fabricated in 180 nm standard CMOS processes. The IADC achieved 11.3-bit ENOB at 6.8 μW, resulting in the best Walden and SNDR FoMs, 107.9 fJ/c-s and 162.1 dB, respectively, among two different comparison groups: the IADCs reported up to date in the state-of-the-art neural recording front-ends; and the recent brain recording ADCs using similar zooming or tracking techniques to this work. The intrinsic dual-band recording feature reduces the post-processing FPGA resources for subcortical signal band separation by >45.8%. The front-end IC with the zoom-and-track IADC showed an NEF of 5.9 with input-referred noise of 8.2 μVrms, sufficient for subcortical recording. The performance of the whole front-end IC was successfully validated through in vivo animal experiments.
Collapse
|
46
|
Ibáñez J, Zicher B, Brown KE, Rocchi L, Casolo A, Del Vecchio A, Spampinato D, Vollette CA, Rothwell JC, Baker SN, Farina D. Standard intensities of transcranial alternating current stimulation over the motor cortex do not entrain corticospinal inputs to motor neurons. J Physiol 2023; 601:3187-3199. [PMID: 35776944 DOI: 10.1113/jp282983] [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: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (TACS) is commonly used to synchronize a cortical area and its outputs to the stimulus waveform, but gathering evidence for this based on brain recordings in humans is challenging. The corticospinal tract transmits beta oscillations (∼21 Hz) from the motor cortex to tonically contracted limb muscles linearly. Therefore, muscle activity may be used to measure the level of beta entrainment in the corticospinal tract due to TACS over the motor cortex. Here, we assessed whether TACS is able to modulate the neural inputs to muscles, which would provide indirect evidence for TACS-driven neural entrainment. In the first part of the study, we ran simulations of motor neuron (MN) pools receiving inputs from corticospinal neurons with different levels of beta entrainment. Results suggest that MNs are highly sensitive to changes in corticospinal beta activity. Then, we ran experiments on healthy human subjects (N = 10) in which TACS (at 1 mA) was delivered over the motor cortex at 21 Hz (beta stimulation), or at 7 Hz or 40 Hz (control conditions) while the abductor digiti minimi or the tibialis anterior muscle were tonically contracted. Muscle activity was measured using high-density electromyography, which allowed us to decompose the activity of pools of motor units innervating the muscles. By analysing motor unit pool activity, we observed that none of the TACS conditions could consistently alter the spectral contents of the common neural inputs received by the muscles. These results suggest that 1 mA TACS over the motor cortex given at beta frequencies does not entrain corticospinal activity. KEY POINTS: Transcranial alternating current stimulation (TACS) is commonly used to entrain the communication between brain regions. It is challenging to find direct evidence supporting TACS-driven neural entrainment due to the technical difficulties in recording brain activity during stimulation. Computational simulations of motor neuron pools receiving common inputs in the beta (∼21 Hz) band indicate that motor neurons are highly sensitive to corticospinal beta entrainment. Motor unit activity from human muscles does not support TACS-driven corticospinal entrainment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Ibáñez
- BSICoS group, I3A Institute, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College, London, UK
- Department for Clinical and movement neurosciences, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK
| | - Blanka Zicher
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Katlyn E Brown
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lorenzo Rocchi
- Department for Clinical and movement neurosciences, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Andrea Casolo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Del Vecchio
- Department of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, 17 Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Danny Spampinato
- Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Department of Behavioral and Clinical Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Stuart N Baker
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Dario Farina
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Radecke JO, Fiene M, Misselhorn J, Herrmann CS, Engel AK, Wolters CH, Schneider TR. Personalized alpha-tACS targeting left posterior parietal cortex modulates visuo-spatial attention and posterior evoked EEG activity. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:1047-1061. [PMID: 37353071 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Covert visuo-spatial attention is marked by the anticipatory lateralization of neuronal alpha activity in the posterior parietal cortex. Previous applications of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at the alpha frequency, however, were inconclusive regarding the causal contribution of oscillatory activity during visuo-spatial attention. OBJECTIVE Attentional shifts of behavior and electroencephalography (EEG) after-effects were assessed in a cued visuo-spatial attention paradigm. We hypothesized that parietal alpha-tACS shifts attention relative to the ipsilateral visual hemifield. Furthermore, we assumed that modulations of behavior and neurophysiology are related to individual electric field simulations. METHODS We applied personalized tACS at alpha and gamma frequencies to elucidate the role of oscillatory neuronal activity for visuo-spatial attention. Personalized tACS montages were algorithmically optimized to target individual left and right parietal regions that were defined by an EEG localizer. RESULTS Behavioral performance in the left hemifield was specifically increased by alpha-tACS compared to gamma-tACS targeting the left parietal cortex. This hemisphere-specific effect was observed despite the symmetry of simulated electric fields. In addition, visual event-related potential (ERP) amplitudes showed a reduced lateralization over posterior sites induced by left alpha-tACS. Neuronal sources of this effect were localized in the left premotor cortex. Interestingly, accuracy modulations induced by left parietal alpha-tACS were directly related to electric field magnitudes in the left premotor cortex. CONCLUSION Overall, results corroborate the notion that alpha lateralization plays a causal role in covert visuo-spatial attention and indicate an increased susceptibility of parietal and premotor brain regions of the left dorsal attention network to subtle tACS-neuromodulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Ole Radecke
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Marina Fiene
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Misselhorn
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph S Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany; Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Hearing4all", Germany
| | - Andreas K Engel
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carsten H Wolters
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany; Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Till R Schneider
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Lyzhko E, Peter SE, Nees F, Siniatchkin M, Moliadze V. Offline 20 Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation over the right inferior frontal gyrus increases theta activity during a motor response inhibition task. Neurophysiol Clin 2023; 53:102887. [PMID: 37355398 DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2023.102887] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous studies have shown that the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) and the pre-supplementary motor area (preSMA) play an important role in motor inhibitory control. The aim of the study was to use theta frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to modulate brain activity in the rIFG and preSMA and to test the effects of stimulation using a motor response inhibition task. METHODS In four sessions, 20 healthy participants received tACS at 6 Hz over preSMA or rIFG, or 20 Hz over rIFG (to test frequency specificity), or sham stimulation before task processing. After each type of stimulation, the participants performed the Go/NoGo task with simultaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) recording. RESULTS By stimulating rIFG and preSMA with 6 Hz tACS, we were not able to modulate either behavioral performance nor the EEG correlate. Interestingly, 20 Hz tACS over the rIFG significantly increased theta activity, however without behavioral effects. This increased theta activity did not coincide with the stimulation area and was localized in the fronto-central and centro-parietal areas. CONCLUSIONS The inclusion of a control frequency is crucial to test for frequency specificity. Our findings are in accordance with previous studies showing that after effects of tACS are not restricted to the stimulation frequency but can also occur in other frequency bands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Lyzhko
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany; Department of Neuropediatrics, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Stefanie E Peter
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Frauke Nees
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Michael Siniatchkin
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany; University Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital OWL, University of Bielefeld, Campus Bethel, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Vera Moliadze
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Grover S, Fayzullina R, Bullard BM, Levina V, Reinhart RMG. A meta-analysis suggests that tACS improves cognition in healthy, aging, and psychiatric populations. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eabo2044. [PMID: 37224229 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abo2044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has attracted interest as a technique for causal investigations into how rhythmic fluctuations in brain neural activity influence cognition and for promoting cognitive rehabilitation. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of tACS on cognitive function across 102 published studies, which included 2893 individuals in healthy, aging, and neuropsychiatric populations. A total of 304 effects were extracted from these 102 studies. We found modest to moderate improvements in cognitive function with tACS treatment that were evident in several cognitive domains, including working memory, long-term memory, attention, executive control, and fluid intelligence. Improvements in cognitive function were generally stronger after completion of tACS ("offline" effects) than during tACS treatment ("online" effects). Improvements in cognitive function were greater in studies that used current flow models to optimize or confirm neuromodulation targets by stimulating electric fields generated in the brain by tACS protocols. In studies targeting multiple brain regions concurrently, cognitive function changed bidirectionally (improved or decreased) according to the relative phase, or alignment, of the alternating current in the two brain regions (in phase versus antiphase). We also noted improvements in cognitive function separately in older adults and in individuals with neuropsychiatric illnesses. Overall, our findings contribute to the debate surrounding the effectiveness of tACS for cognitive rehabilitation, quantitatively demonstrate its potential, and indicate further directions for optimal tACS clinical study design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shrey Grover
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Renata Fayzullina
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Breanna M Bullard
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Victoria Levina
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Robert M G Reinhart
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Research in Sensory Communication and Emerging Neural Technology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Guerra A, Colella D, Cannavacciuolo A, Giangrosso M, Paparella G, Fabbrini G, Berardelli A, Bologna M. Short-term plasticity of the motor cortex compensates for bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 182:106137. [PMID: 37120094 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) show impaired short-term potentiation (STP) mechanisms in the primary motor cortex (M1). However, the role played by this neurophysiological abnormality in bradykinesia pathophysiology is unknown. In this study, we used a multimodal neuromodulation approach to test whether defective STP contributes to bradykinesia. We evaluated STP by measuring motor-evoked potential facilitation during 5 Hz-repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and assessed repetitive finger tapping movements through kinematic techniques. Also, we used transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to drive M1 oscillations and experimentally modulate bradykinesia. STP was assessed during tACS delivered at beta (β) and gamma (γ) frequency, and during sham-tACS. Data were compared to those recorded in a group of healthy subjects. In PD, we found that STP was impaired during sham- and γ-tACS, while it was restored during β-tACS. Importantly, the degree of STP impairment was associated with the severity of movement slowness and amplitude reduction. Moreover, β-tACS-related improvements in STP were linked to changes in movement slowness and intracortical GABA-A-ergic inhibition during stimulation, as assessed by short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI). Patients with prominent STP amelioration had greater SICI reduction (cortical disinhibition) and less slowness worsening during β-tACS. Dopaminergic medications did not modify β-tACS effects. These data demonstrate that abnormal STP processes are involved in bradykinesia pathophysiology and return to normal levels when β oscillations increase. STP changes are likely mediated by modifications in GABA-A-ergic intracortical circuits and may represent a compensatory mechanism against β-induced bradykinesia in PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Guerra
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS 86077, Italy; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Donato Colella
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Giovanni Fabbrini
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS 86077, Italy; 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.
| |
Collapse
|