Brain Stimul
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Randomized Controlled Trial
1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation increases cerebral vasomotor reactivity: a possible autonomic nervous system modulation.
Neuromodulation techniques, i.e. repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), can modify cerebral hemodynamics. High frequency rTMS appeared to decrease cerebral vasomotor reactivity (VMR), while there is still poor evidence about the effect of low frequency (LF) rTMS on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and VMR. ⋯ 1-Hz rTMS may induce a bilateral long-lasting increase of VMR, while its effect on MFV is short-lasting. Moreover, HRV changes induced by rTMS suggest a possible autonomic nervous system modulation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Concurrent cognitive control training augments the antidepressant efficacy of tDCS: a pilot study.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is frequently associated with underactivity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) which has led to this brain region being identified as an important target for the development of neurobiological treatments. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) administered to the DLPFC has antidepressant efficacy, however the magnitude of antidepressant outcomes are limited. Concurrent cognitive activity has been shown to enhance tDCS induced stimulation effects. Cognitive control training (CCT) is a new cognitive therapy for MDD that aims to enhance DLPFC activity via behavioral methods. ⋯ The results provide preliminary evidence that concurrent CCT enhances antidepressant outcomes from tDCS. In the current sample, participants receiving concurrent tDCS and CCT continued to improve following cessation of treatment. The clinical superiority of a combined therapeutic approach was apparent even in a small sample and following a relatively short treatment course.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of a non-focal plasticity protocol on apathy in moderate Alzheimer's disease: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial.
Apathy is the most common neuropsychiatric symptom in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and it is associated with changes in prefrontal neural circuits involved with generation of voluntary actions. To date no effective treatment for apathy has been demonstrated. ⋯ In this adequately powered study for minimal clinically significant difference, our findings show that using the parameters we chose for this study, repeated anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC had no effect on apathy in elderly patients with moderate AD.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Functional MRI-navigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over supplementary motor area in chronic tic disorders.
Open label studies have shown repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to be effective in reducing tics. ⋯ Active, fMRI-navigated cTBS administered in 8 sessions over 2 days to the SMA induced significant inhibition in the motor network (SMA, bilateral M1). However, both groups on average experienced tic reduction at 7 days. Larger sample size and protocol modifications may be needed to produce clinically significant tic reduction beyond placebo effect.
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Deep brain stimulation is the surgical procedure of choice in patients with Parkinson's disease. The subthalamic nucleus and the globus pallidus interna are the two most common targets used to treat Parkinson's disease. ⋯ After 24 months of follow up, our observations suggest that globus pallidus deep brain stimulation, can improve motor fluctuations, dyskinesia and axial symptoms.