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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.
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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.
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2
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Wei J, Alamia A, Yao Z, Huang G, Li L, Liang Z, Zhang L, Zhou C, Song Z, Zhang Z. State-Dependent tACS Effects Reveal the Potential Causal Role of Prestimulus Alpha Traveling Waves in Visual Contrast Detection. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2023232024. [PMID: 38811165 PMCID: PMC11223459 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2023-23.2024] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The intricate relationship between prestimulus alpha oscillations and visual contrast detection variability has been the focus of numerous studies. However, the causal impact of prestimulus alpha traveling waves on visual contrast detection remains largely unexplored. In our research, we sought to discern the causal link between prestimulus alpha traveling waves and visual contrast detection across different levels of mental fatigue. Using electroencephalography alongside a visual detection task with 30 healthy adults (13 females; 17 males), we identified a robust negative correlation between prestimulus alpha forward traveling waves (FTWs) and visual contrast threshold (VCT). Inspired by this correlation, we utilized 45/-45° phase-shifted transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in a sham-controlled, double-blind, within-subject experiment with 33 healthy adults (23 females; 10 males) to directly modulate these alpha traveling waves. After the application of 45° phase-shifted tACS, we observed a substantial decrease in FTW and an increase in backward traveling waves, along with a concurrent increase in VCT, compared with the sham condition. These changes were particularly pronounced under a low fatigue state. The findings of state-dependent tACS effects reveal the potential causal role of prestimulus alpha traveling waves in visual contrast detection. Moreover, our study highlights the potential of 45/-45° phase-shifted tACS in cognitive modulation and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwen Wei
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Andrea Alamia
- CerCo, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Ziqing Yao
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gan Huang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Linling Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Zhen Liang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Li Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Changsong Zhou
- Department of Physics, Centre for Nonlinear Studies and Beijing-Hong Kong-Singapore Joint Centre for Nonlinear and Complex Systems (Hong Kong), Institute of Computational and Theoretical Studies, and Life Science Imaging Centre, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhenxi Song
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, China
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3
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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.
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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.
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4
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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.
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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
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5
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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.
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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
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6
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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8
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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.
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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
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9
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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.
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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
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10
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Wang Y, Ma Y, Zhong Q, Song B, Liu Q. Transcriptomic analysis of rat brain response to alternating current electrical stimulation: unveiling insights via single-nucleus RNA sequencing. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e514. [PMID: 38495123 PMCID: PMC10943177 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.514] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrical brain stimulation (EBS) has gained popularity for laboratory and clinical applications. However, comprehensive characterization of cellular diversity and gene expression changes induced by EBS remains limited, particularly with respect to specific brain regions and stimulation sites. Here, we presented the initial single-nucleus RNA sequencing profiles of rat cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus subjected to intracranial alternating current stimulation (iACS) at 40 Hz. The results demonstrated an increased number of neurons in all three regions in response to iACS. Interestingly, less than 0.1% of host gene expression in neurons was significantly altered by iACS. In addition, we identified Rgs9, a known negative regulator of dopaminergic signaling, as a unique downregulated gene in neurons. Unilateral iACS produced a more focused local effect in attenuating the proportion of Rgs9+ neurons in the ipsilateral compared to bilateral iACS treatment. The results suggested that unilateral iACS at 40 Hz was an efficient approach to increase the number of neurons and downregulate Rgs9 gene expression without affecting other cell types or genes in the brain. Our study presented the direct evidence that EBS could boost cerebral neurogenesis and enhance neuronal sensitization to dopaminergic drugs and agonists, through its downregulatory effect on Rgs9 in neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Institute of Biomedical and Health EngineeringShenzhen Institutes of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
| | - Yongchao Ma
- Institute of Biomedical and Health EngineeringShenzhen Institutes of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
| | - Qiuling Zhong
- Institute of Biomedical and Health EngineeringShenzhen Institutes of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
| | - Bing Song
- Institute of Biomedical and Health EngineeringShenzhen Institutes of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
| | - Qian Liu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health EngineeringShenzhen Institutes of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
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11
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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.
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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.
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12
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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.
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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
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13
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Harquel S, Cian C, Torlay L, Cousin E, Barraud PA, Bougerol T, Guerraz M. Modulation of Visually Induced Self-motion Illusions by α Transcranial Electric Stimulation over the Superior Parietal Cortex. J Cogn Neurosci 2024; 36:143-154. [PMID: 37870524 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
The growing popularity of virtual reality systems has led to a renewed interest in understanding the neurophysiological correlates of the illusion of self-motion (vection), a phenomenon that can be both intentionally induced or avoided in such systems, depending on the application. Recent research has highlighted the modulation of α power oscillations over the superior parietal cortex during vection, suggesting the occurrence of inhibitory mechanisms in the sensorimotor and vestibular functional networks to resolve the inherent visuo-vestibular conflict. The present study aims to further explore this relationship and investigate whether neuromodulating these waves could causally affect the quality of vection. In a crossover design, 22 healthy volunteers received high amplitude and focused α-tACS (transcranial alternating current stimulation) over the superior parietal cortex while experiencing visually induced vection triggered by optokinetic stimulation. The tACS was tuned to each participant's individual α peak frequency, with θ-tACS and sham stimulation serving as controls. Overall, participants experienced better quality vection during α-tACS compared with control θ-tACS and sham stimulations, as quantified by the intensity of vection. The observed neuromodulation supports a causal relationship between parietal α oscillations and visually induced self-motion illusions, with their entrainment triggering overinhibition of the conflict within the sensorimotor and vestibular functional networks. These results confirm the potential of noninvasive brain stimulation for modulating visuo-vestibular conflicts, which could help to enhance the sense of presence in virtual reality environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Harquel
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, UMR5105, LPNC, Grenoble, France
- Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics (CNP) and Brain Mind Institute (BMI), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Corinne Cian
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, UMR5105, LPNC, Grenoble, France
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Brétigny sur Orge, France
| | - Laurent Torlay
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, UMR5105, LPNC, Grenoble, France
| | - Emilie Cousin
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, UMR5105, LPNC, Grenoble, France
| | - Pierre-Alain Barraud
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble INP, TIMC-IMAG, Grenoble, France
| | - Thierry Bougerol
- Centre Hospitalier Université Grenoble-Alpes, Pôle Psychiatrie, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Inserm, U1216, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Michel Guerraz
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, UMR5105, LPNC, Grenoble, France
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14
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Hsu WY, Zanto T, Park JE, Gazzaley A, Bove RM. Effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation on cognitive function in people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 80:105090. [PMID: 37925960 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105090] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is a core symptom that profoundly impacts the lives of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Since the existing disease modifying therapies can only stabilize, but not actively treat, cognition in PwMS, there is an unmet need to expand approaches to treat these cognitive symptoms. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) permits frequency-specific entrainment of neural oscillations intrinsic to cognitive activity. However, the effects of the tACS on cognitive function in PwMS have not yet been assessed. We aimed to evaluate the potential efficacy of applying frontal theta-tACS to improve information processing speed in PwMS. METHODS 60 PwMS with cognitive complaints were enrolled in a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial with three stimulation groups: 2 mA, 1 mA, or sham control. A single session of theta-tACS was applied while participants were engaged in a cognitive program which has shown to improve processing speed in PwMS. tACS effects were examined by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Tolerability, side effects and acceptability were measured. RESULTS 1 mA groups had a significantly higher SDMT score after stimulation compared to their pre-stimulation score, 2 mA group showed a marginally significant improvement of their SDMT score, while the SDMT score in the sham group did not change. Overall, 49% of the stimulation group participants showed a clinically meaningful SDMT improvement (4+-point increase). CONCLUSION tACS is a well-tolerated, non-pharmacological intervention. Based on the positive effects observed in the current study of a single session of tACS applied during cognitive engagement, the effects of repeated tACS on cognitive function in PwMS merit further research. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04466228.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Hsu
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Theodore Zanto
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jee Eun Park
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Riley M Bove
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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15
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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.
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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.
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16
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Joshi R, Murali S, Thirugnanasambandam N. Behavioral Validation of Individualized Low-Intensity Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES) Protocols. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0374-22.2023. [PMID: 38135512 PMCID: PMC10748339 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0374-22.2023] [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: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Large interindividual variability in the effects of low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) considerably limits its potential for clinical applications. It has been recently proposed that individualizing stimulation dose by accounting for interindividual anatomic differences would reduce the variability in electric fields (E-fields) over the targeted cortical site and therefore produce more consistent behavioral outcomes. However, improvement in behavioral outcomes following individualized dose tES has never been compared with that of conventional fixed dose tES. In this study, we aimed to empirically evaluate the effect of individualized dose tES on behavior and further compare it with the effects of sham and fixed dose stimulations. We conducted a single-blinded, sham-controlled, repeated-measures study to examine the impact of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor learning and that of transcranial alternating current stimulation on the working memory of 42 healthy adult individuals. Each participant underwent three sessions of tES, receiving fixed dose, individualized dose, or sham stimulation over the targeted brain region for the entire behavioral task. Our results showed that the individualized dose reduced the variability in E-fields at the targeted cortical surfaces. However, there was no significant effect of tES on behavioral outcomes. We argue that although the stimulation dose and E-field intensity at the targeted cortical site are linearly correlated, the effect of E-fields on behavior seems to be more complex. Effective optimization of tES protocols warrants further research considering both neuroanatomical and functional aspects of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajat Joshi
- National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar 122 052, India
- Human Motor Neurophysiology and Neuromodulation Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Sainath Murali
- National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar 122 052, India
- Human Motor Neurophysiology and Neuromodulation Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Nivethida Thirugnanasambandam
- National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar 122 052, India
- Human Motor Neurophysiology and Neuromodulation Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai Mumbai 400076, India
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17
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Wansbrough K. A novel protocol for indirectly evaluating entrainment during tACS in humans. J Physiol 2023; 601:4663-4664. [PMID: 37804075 DOI: 10.1113/jp285465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kym Wansbrough
- School of Psychology, College of Health and Education, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia
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18
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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.
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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
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19
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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.
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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
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20
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Park J, Lee S, Choi D, Im CH. Enhancement of dynamic visual acuity using transcranial alternating current stimulation with gamma burst entrained on alpha wave troughs. BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS : BBF 2023; 19:13. [PMID: 37620941 PMCID: PMC10463531 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-023-00215-w] [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] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cross-frequency phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) of cortical oscillations is observed within and across cortical regions during higher-order cognitive processes. Particularly, the PAC of alpha and gamma waves in the occipital cortex is closely associated with visual perception. In theory, gamma oscillation is a neuronal representation of visual stimuli, which drives the duty cycle of visual perception together with alpha oscillation. Therefore, it is believed that the timing of entrainment in alpha-gamma PAC may play a critical role in the performance of visual perception. We hypothesized that transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with gamma waves entrained at the troughs of alpha waves would enhance the dynamic visual acuity (DVA). METHOD We attempted to modulate the performance of DVA by using tACS. The waveforms of the tACS were tailored to target PAC over the occipital cortex. The waveforms contained gamma (80 Hz) waves oscillating at either the peaks or troughs of alpha (10 Hz) waves. Participants performed computerized DVA task before, immediately after, and 10 min after each stimulation sessions. EEG and EOG were recorded during the DVA task to assess inter-trial phase coherence (ITPC), the alpha-gamma PAC at occipital site and the eye movements. RESULTS tACS with gamma waves entrained at alpha troughs effectively enhanced DVA, while the tACS with gamma waves entrained at alpha peaks did not affect DVA performance. Importantly, analyses of EEG and EOG showed that the enhancement of DVA performance originated solely from the neuromodulatory effects, and was not related to the modulation of saccadic eye movements. Consequently, DVA, one of the higher-order cognitive abilities, was successfully modulated using tACS with a tailored waveform. CONCLUSIONS Our experimental results demonstrated that DVA performances were enhanced when tACS with gamma bursts entrained on alpha wave troughs were applied over the occipital cortex. Our findings suggest that using tACS with tailored waveforms, modulation of complex neuronal features could effectively enhance higher-order cognitive abilities such as DVA, which has never been modulated with conventional noninvasive brain stimulation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimin Park
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangjun Lee
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dasom Choi
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Hwan Im
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, 133-791 Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Cabrera-Álvarez J, Sánchez-Claros J, Carrasco-Gómez M, del Cerro-León A, Gómez-Ariza CJ, Maestú F, Mirasso CR, Susi G. Understanding the effects of cortical gyrification in tACS: insights from experiments and computational models. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1223950. [PMID: 37655010 PMCID: PMC10467425 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1223950] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The alpha rhythm is often associated with relaxed wakefulness or idling and is altered by various factors. Abnormalities in the alpha rhythm have been linked to several neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has been proposed as a potential tool to restore a disrupted alpha rhythm in the brain by stimulating at the individual alpha frequency (IAF), although some research has produced contradictory results. In this study, we applied an IAF-tACS protocol over parieto-occipital areas to a sample of healthy subjects and measured its effects over the power spectra. Additionally, we used computational models to get a deeper understanding of the results observed in the experiment. Both experimental and numerical results showed an increase in alpha power of 8.02% with respect to the sham condition in a widespread set of regions in the cortex, excluding some expected parietal regions. This result could be partially explained by taking into account the orientation of the electric field with respect to the columnar structures of the cortex, showing that the gyrification in parietal regions could generate effects in opposite directions (hyper-/depolarization) at the same time in specific brain regions. Additionally, we used a network model of spiking neuronal populations to explore the effects that these opposite polarities could have on neural activity, and we found that the best predictor of alpha power was the average of the normal components of the electric field. To sum up, our study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying tACS brain activity modulation, using both empirical and computational approaches. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques hold promise for treating brain disorders, but further research is needed to fully understand and control their effects on brain dynamics and cognition. Our findings contribute to this growing body of research and provide a foundation for future studies aimed at optimizing the use of non-invasive brain stimulation in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Cabrera-Álvarez
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Sánchez-Claros
- Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos (IFISC, UIB-CSIC), Campus UIB, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Martín Carrasco-Gómez
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Image Technologies, ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto del Cerro-León
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Fernando Maestú
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Claudio R. Mirasso
- Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos (IFISC, UIB-CSIC), Campus UIB, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Gianluca Susi
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Structure of Matter, Thermal Physics and Electronics, School of Physics, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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22
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O'Hare L, Tarasi L, Asher JM, Hibbard PB, Romei V. Excitation-Inhibition Imbalance in Migraine: From Neurotransmitters to Brain Oscillations. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10093. [PMID: 37373244 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Migraine is among the most common and debilitating neurological disorders typically affecting people of working age. It is characterised by a unilateral, pulsating headache often associated with severe pain. Despite the intensive research, there is still little understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine. At the electrophysiological level, altered oscillatory parameters have been reported within the alpha and gamma bands. At the molecular level, altered glutamate and GABA concentrations have been reported. However, there has been little cross-talk between these lines of research. Thus, the relationship between oscillatory activity and neurotransmitter concentrations remains to be empirically traced. Importantly, how these indices link back to altered sensory processing has to be clearly established as yet. Accordingly, pharmacologic treatments have been mostly symptom-based, and yet sometimes proving ineffective in resolving pain or related issues. This review provides an integrative theoretical framework of excitation-inhibition imbalance for the understanding of current evidence and to address outstanding questions concerning the pathophysiology of migraine. We propose the use of computational modelling for the rigorous formulation of testable hypotheses on mechanisms of homeostatic imbalance and for the development of mechanism-based pharmacological treatments and neurostimulation interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise O'Hare
- Division of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
| | - Luca Tarasi
- Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Via Rasi e Spinelli, 176, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Jordi M Asher
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Paul B Hibbard
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Vincenzo Romei
- Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Via Rasi e Spinelli, 176, 47521 Cesena, Italy
- Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, 28015 Madrid, Spain
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23
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Haslacher D, Narang A, Sokoliuk R, Cavallo A, Reber P, Nasr K, Santarnecchi E, Soekadar SR. In vivo phase-dependent enhancement and suppression of human brain oscillations by transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Neuroimage 2023:120187. [PMID: 37230205 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can influence perception and behavior, with recent evidence also highlighting its potential impact in clinical settings, but its underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Behavioral and indirect physiological evidence indicates that phase-dependent constructive and destructive interference between the applied electric field and brain oscillations at the stimulation frequency may play an important role, but in vivo validation during stimulation was unfeasible because stimulation artifacts impede single-trial assessment of brain oscillations during tACS. Here, we attenuated stimulation artifacts to provide evidence for phase-dependent enhancement and suppression of visually evoked steady state responses (SSR) during amplitude-modulated tACS (AM-tACS). We found that AM-tACS enhanced and suppressed SSR by 5.77 ± 2.95 %, while it enhanced and suppressed corresponding visual perception by 7.99 ± 5.15 %. While not designed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this effect, our study suggests feasibility and superiority of phase-locked (closed-loop) AM-tACS over conventional (open-loop) AM-tACS to purposefully enhance or suppress brain oscillations at specific frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Haslacher
- Clinical Neurotechnology Lab, Neuroscience Research Center (NWFZ), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Asmita Narang
- Clinical Neurotechnology Lab, Neuroscience Research Center (NWFZ), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rodika Sokoliuk
- Clinical Neurotechnology Lab, Neuroscience Research Center (NWFZ), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alessia Cavallo
- Clinical Neurotechnology Lab, Neuroscience Research Center (NWFZ), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Reber
- Clinical Neurotechnology Lab, Neuroscience Research Center (NWFZ), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Khaled Nasr
- Clinical Neurotechnology Lab, Neuroscience Research Center (NWFZ), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Emiliano Santarnecchi
- Precision Neuroscience and Neuromodulation Program & Network Control Laboratory, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Surjo R Soekadar
- Clinical Neurotechnology Lab, Neuroscience Research Center (NWFZ), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany..
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24
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Contò F, Tyler S, Paletta P, Battelli L. The role of the parietal lobe in task-irrelevant suppression during learning. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:715-723. [PMID: 37062348 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.04.006] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention optimizes the selection of visual information, while suppressing irrelevant visual input through cortical mechanisms that are still unclear. We set to investigate these processes using an attention task with an embedded to-be-ignored interfering visual input. OBJECTIVE We delivered electrical stimulation to attention-related brain areas to modulate these facilitatory/inhibitory attentional mechanisms. We asked whether overtly training on a task while being covertly exposed to visual features from a visually identical but different task tested at baseline might influence post-training performance on the baseline task. METHODS In Experiment one, at baseline subjects performed an orientation discrimination (OD) task using a pair of gratings presented at individual's psychophysical threshold. We then trained participants over three-day separate sessions on a temporal order judgment task (TOJ), using the exact same gratings but presented with different time offsets. On the last post-training session we re-tested OD. We coupled training with transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) over the parietal cortex, the human middle temporal area or sham, in three separate groups. In Experiment two, subjects performed the same OD task at baseline and post-training, while tRNS was delivered at rest during the same sessions and stimulation conditions as in Experiment one. RESULTS Results showed that tRNS over parietal cortex facilitated learning of the trained TOJ task. Moreover, we found a detrimental effect on the untrained OD task when subjects received parietal tRNS coupled with training (Experiment one), but a benefit on OD when subjects received stimulation while at rest (Experiment two). CONCLUSIONS These results clearly indicate that task-irrelevant information is actively suppressed during learning, and that this prioritization mechanism of selection likely resides in the parietal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Contò
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems@UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068, Rovereto (TN), Italy.
| | - S Tyler
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems@UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068, Rovereto (TN), Italy; Butte College, Oroville, CA, 95965, USA
| | - P Paletta
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems@UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068, Rovereto (TN), Italy
| | - L Battelli
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems@UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, 38068, Rovereto (TN), Italy; Department of Neurology, Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 01238, USA.
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25
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He Y, Liu S, Chen L, Ke Y, Ming D. Neurophysiological mechanisms of transcranial alternating current stimulation. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1091925. [PMID: 37090788 PMCID: PMC10117687 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1091925] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal oscillations are the primary basis for precise temporal coordination of neuronal processing and are linked to different brain functions. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has demonstrated promising potential in improving cognition by entraining neural oscillations. Despite positive findings in recent decades, the results obtained are sometimes rife with variance and replicability problems, and the findings translation to humans is quite challenging. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms underlying tACS is necessitated for accurate interpretation of experimental results. Animal models are useful for understanding tACS mechanisms, optimizing parameter administration, and improving rational design for broad horizons of tACS. Here, we review recent electrophysiological advances in tACS from animal models, as well as discuss some critical issues for results coordination and translation. We hope to provide an overview of neurophysiological mechanisms and recommendations for future consideration to improve its validity, specificity, and reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen He
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Long Chen
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yufeng Ke
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Dong Ming
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Neural Engineering, Tianjin, China
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26
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Wick ZC, Philipsberg PA, Lamsifer SI, Kohler C, Katanov E, Feng Y, Humphrey C, Shuman T. Manipulating single-unit theta phase-locking with PhaSER: An open-source tool for real-time phase estimation and manipulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.21.529420. [PMID: 36865324 PMCID: PMC9980125 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.21.529420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The precise timing of neuronal spiking relative to the brain's endogenous oscillations (i.e., phase-locking or spike-phase coupling) has long been hypothesized to coordinate cognitive processes and maintain excitatory-inhibitory homeostasis. Indeed, disruptions in theta phase-locking have been described in models of neurological diseases with associated cognitive deficits and seizures, such as Alzheimer's disease, temporal lobe epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorders. However, due to technical limitations, determining if phase-locking causally contributes to these disease phenotypes has not been possible until recently. To fill this gap and allow for the flexible manipulation of single-unit phase-locking to on-going endogenous oscillations, we developed PhaSER, an open-source tool that allows for phase-specific manipulations. PhaSER can deliver optogenetic stimulation at defined phases of theta in order to shift the preferred firing phase of neurons relative to theta in real-time. Here, we describe and validate this tool in a subpopulation of inhibitory neurons that express somatostatin (SOM) in the CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the dorsal hippocampus. We show that PhaSER is able to accurately deliver a photo-manipulation that activates opsin+ SOM neurons at specified phases of theta in real-time in awake, behaving mice. Further, we show that this manipulation is sufficient to alter the preferred firing phase of opsin+ SOM neurons without altering the referenced theta power or phase. All software and hardware requirements to implement real-time phase manipulations during behavior are available online (https://github.com/ShumanLab/PhaSER).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Cassidy Kohler
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY
- New York University, New York NY
| | - Elizabeth Katanov
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY
- Hunter College, CUNY, New York NY
| | - Yu Feng
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY
| | - Corin Humphrey
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY
- Hunter College, CUNY, New York NY
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27
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Wischnewski M, Alekseichuk I, Opitz A. Neurocognitive, physiological, and biophysical effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation. Trends Cogn Sci 2023; 27:189-205. [PMID: 36543610 PMCID: PMC9852081 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can modulate human neural activity and behavior. Accordingly, tACS has vast potential for cognitive research and brain disorder therapies. The stimulation generates oscillating electric fields in the brain that can bias neural spike timing, causing changes in local neural oscillatory power and cross-frequency and cross-area coherence. tACS affects cognitive performance by modulating underlying single or nested brain rhythms, local or distal synchronization, and metabolic activity. Clinically, stimulation tailored to abnormal neural oscillations shows promising results in alleviating psychiatric and neurological symptoms. We summarize the findings of tACS mechanisms, its use for cognitive applications, and novel developments for personalized stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ivan Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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28
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Krause MR, Vieira PG, Pack CC. Transcranial electrical stimulation: How can a simple conductor orchestrate complex brain activity? PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3001973. [PMID: 36716309 PMCID: PMC9886255 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is one of the oldest and yet least understood forms of brain stimulation. The idea that a weak electrical stimulus, applied outside the head, can meaningfully affect neural activity is often regarded as mysterious. Here, we argue that the direct effects of tES are not so mysterious: Extensive data from a wide range of model systems shows it has appreciable effects on the activity of individual neurons. Instead, the real mysteries are how tES interacts with the brain's own activity and how these dynamics can be controlled to produce desirable therapeutic effects. These are challenging problems, akin to repairing a complex machine while it is running, but they are not unique to tES or even neuroscience. We suggest that models of coupled oscillators, a common tool for studying interactions in other fields, may provide valuable insights. By combining these tools with our growing, interdisciplinary knowledge of brain dynamics, we are now in a good position to make progress in this area and meet the high demand for effective neuromodulation in neuroscience and psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Krause
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail: (MRK); (PGV); (CCP)
| | - Pedro G. Vieira
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail: (MRK); (PGV); (CCP)
| | - Christopher C. Pack
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail: (MRK); (PGV); (CCP)
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29
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Uehara K, Fine JM, Santello M. Modulation of cortical beta oscillations influences motor vigor: A rhythmic TMS-EEG study. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 44:1158-1172. [PMID: 36419365 PMCID: PMC9875933 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous electro- or magnetoencephalography (Electro/Magneto EncephaloGraphic; E/MEG) studies using a correlative approach have shown that β (13-30 Hz) oscillations emerging in the primary motor cortex (M1) are implicated in regulating motor response vigor and associated with an anti-kinetic role, that is, slowness of movement. However, the functional role of M1 β oscillations in regulation of motor responses remains unclear. To address this gap, we combined EEG with rhythmic TMS (rhTMS) delivered to M1 at the β (20 Hz) frequency shortly before subjects performed an isometric ramp-and-hold finger force production task at three force levels. rhTMS is a novel approach that can modulate rhythmic patterns of neural activity. β-rhTMS over M1 induced a modulation of neural oscillations to β frequency in the sensorimotor area and reduced peak force rate during the ramp-up period relative to sham and catch trials. Interestingly, this rhTMS effect occurred only in the large force production condition. To distinguish whether the effects of rhTMS on EEG and behavior stemmed from phase-resetting by each magnetic pulse or neural entrainment by the periodicity of rhTMS, we performed a control experiment using arrhythmic TMS (arTMS). arTMS did not induce changes in EEG oscillations nor peak force rate during the rump-up period. Our results provide novel evidence that β neural oscillations emerging the sensorimotor area influence the regulation of motor response vigor. Furthermore, our findings further demonstrate that rhTMS is a promising tool for tuning neural oscillations to the target frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazumasa Uehara
- School of Biological and Health Systems EngineeringArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA,Division of Neural Dynamics, Department of System NeuroscienceNational Institute for Physiological SciencesOkazakiAichiJapan,Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life ScienceSOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies)OkazakiAichiJapan
| | - Justin M. Fine
- School of Biological and Health Systems EngineeringArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA,University of Minnesota Medical SchoolMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Marco Santello
- School of Biological and Health Systems EngineeringArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
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30
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Koo-Poeggel P, Neuwerk S, Petersen E, Grasshoff J, Mölle M, Martinetz T, Marshall L. Closed-loop acoustic stimulation during an afternoon nap to modulate subsequent encoding. J Sleep Res 2022; 31:e13734. [PMID: 36123957 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Sleep is able to contribute not only to memory consolidation, but also to post-sleep learning. The notion exists that either synaptic downscaling or another process during sleep increase post-sleep learning capacity. A correlation between augmentation of the sleep slow oscillation and hippocampal activation at encoding support the contribution of sleep to encoding of declarative memories. In the present study, the effect of closed-loop acoustic stimulation during an afternoon nap on post-sleep encoding of two verbal (word pairs, verbal learning and memory test) and non-verbal (figural pairs) tasks and on electroencephalogram during sleep and learning were investigated in young healthy adults (N = 16). Closed-loop acoustic stimulation enhanced slow oscillatory and spindle activity, but did not affect encoding at the group level. Subgroup analyses and comparisons with similar studies lead us to the tentative conclusion that further parameters such as time of day and subjects' cognitive ability influenced responses to closed-loop acoustic stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Koo-Poeggel
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany.,Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Soé Neuwerk
- Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Eike Petersen
- Institute for Electrical and Engineering in Medicine, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany.,DTU Compute, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Jan Grasshoff
- Fraunhofer IMTE, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized and Cell-Based Medical Engineering, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Matthias Mölle
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Thomas Martinetz
- Institute for Neuro- and Bioinformatics, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Lisa Marshall
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany.,Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
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31
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Alekseichuk I, Wischnewski M, Opitz A. A minimum effective dose for (transcranial) alternating current stimulation. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:1221-1222. [PMID: 36044976 PMCID: PMC9854271 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Alekseichuk
- Dept of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA,Corresponding author. Dept of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, 7-105 Nils Hasselmo Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. (I. Alekseichuk)
| | - Miles Wischnewski
- Dept of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Dept of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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