Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Advancements in deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices provide a unique opportunity to record local field potentials longitudinally to improve the efficacy of treatment for intractable facial pain. We aimed to identify potential electrophysiological biomarkers of pain in the ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM) of the thalamus and periaqueductal gray (PAG) using a long-term sensing DBS system. ⋯ For this patient, an increase in β band activity in the sensory thalamus was associated with severe facial pain, opening the possibility for closed-loop DBS in facial pain.
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Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has recently been reported to exert additional benefits for functional recovery in patients with brain injury. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have not yet been elucidated. This study examined the effects of transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) on cortical excitability in healthy adults. ⋯ The effect of taVNS on cortical excitability varied in healthy adults. An increase in ICF was observed after taVNS, although the difference was not statistically significant. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms by which taVNS is effective in patients with brain disorders.
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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is used to modulate neuronal activity, but the exact mechanism of action (MOA) is unclear. This study investigates tDCS-induced modulation of the corticospinal excitability and the underlying MOA. By anesthetizing the scalp before applying tDCS and by stimulating the cheeks, we investigated whether stimulation of peripheral and/or cranial nerves contributes to the effects of tDCS on corticospinal excitability. ⋯ The significant MEP amplitude increase observed from 30 minutes on after tDCS-MI supports the modulatory effect of tDCS on corticospinal neurotransmission. This effect lasted one hour after stimulation. The absence of a significant modulation when a local anesthetic was applied suggests that effects of tDCS are not solely established through direct cortical stimulation but that stimulation of peripheral and/or cranial nerves also might contribute to tDCS-induced modulation.
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Anesthetic agents used during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery might interfere with microelectrode recording (MER) and local field potential (LFP) and thus affect the accuracy of surgical target localization. This review aimed to identify the effects of different anesthetic agents on neuronal activity of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) during the MER procedure. ⋯ The effects of the tested anesthetics on the STN in MER and LFP of Parkinson's disease varied; however, identifying the STN and achieving a good clinical outcome are possible under controlled anesthetic conditions. For patient comfort, anesthesia should be considered in STN-DBS.
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This study investigates the way theta burst stimulation (TBS) applied to the motor cortex (M1) affects TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs). There have been few direct comparisons of continuous TBS (cTBS) and intermittent TBS (iTBS), and there is a lack of consensus from existing literature on the induced effects. We performed an exploratory trial to assess the effect of M1-cTBS and M1-iTBS on TEP components. ⋯ The Clinicaltrials.gov registration number for the study is NCT05206162.