Brain Stimul
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Review
Low-intensity ultrasound neuromodulation: An overview of mechanisms and emerging human applications.
There is an emerging need for noninvasive neuromodulation techniques to improve patient outcomes while minimizing adverse events and morbidity. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFUS) is gaining traction as a non-surgical experimental approach of modulating brain activity. Several LIFUS sonication parameters have been found to potentiate neural firing, suppress cortical and epileptic discharges, and alter behavior when delivered to cortical and subcortical mammalian brain regions. ⋯ Though optimal sonication paradigms and transcranial delivery methods are still being established, future applications may include non-invasive human brain mapping experiments, and nonsurgical treatments for functional neurological disorders.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of cortical EEG responses to realistic sham versus real TMS of human motor cortex.
The analysis of cortical responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) recorded by electroencephalography (EEG) has been successfully applied to study human cortical physiology. However, in addition to the (desired) activation of cortical neurons and fibers, TMS also causes (undesired) indirect brain responses through auditory and somatosensory stimulation, which may contribute significantly to the overall EEG signal and mask the effects of intervention on direct cortical responses. ⋯ Real TMS of motor cortex results in cortical responses significantly different from realistic sham. These differences very likely reflect to a significant extent direct activation of neurons, rather than sensory evoked activity.
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Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve stimulation (tVNS) may be an alternative to surgically implanted VNS for epilepsy and other diseases. However, its safety and tolerability profile is unclear. ⋯ tVNS is safe and well tolerated at the doses tested in research studies to date.
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Many traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors live with persistent disability from chronic motor deficits despite contemporary rehabilitation services, underscoring the need for novel treatment. ⋯ LCN DBS enhanced the motor recovery following TBI, possibly by elevating the neuronal excitability at the perilesional area and mediating anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Modulation of cortical responses by transcranial direct current stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: A resting-state EEG and TMS-EEG study.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique with potential for cost-effective therapeutic neuromodulation. Although positive therapeutic effects were found by stimulating the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), few studies have investigated physiological effects of DLPFC-tDCS. ⋯ Our study does not provide evidence that a single tDCS session results in significant changes in rs-EEG, using the current stimulation parameters. Significant changes in EEG responses to TMS pulses were observed following the anodal 1.5 mA tDCS interventions, although these changes were not statistically significant in a group comparison.