The Brain Stimulation Journal:
Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation Feed. This feed contains the latest published articles, both articles that have been published in an issue as well as articles that have been published as Articles in Press.
- Bilateral neuronavigated 20Hz theta burst TMS for treatment refractory depression: An open label studyCurrent medication and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatments for depression bring only approximately one-third of patients to remission. Newer TMS techniques such as bilateral treatment, neuronavigation, and theta burst stimulation (TBS) show promise in improving remission rates. However, it is unclear whether newer off-label techniques improve outcomes enough to justify widespread implementation. ... read more
- Stimulation-induced reversed plus-minus syndrome: Insights into eyelid physiologyPedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) defines a group of neurons sparsely distributed within the reticular formation of brainstem tegmentum thought to be part of the mesencephalic locomotor region [1]. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of PPN is an experimental treatment for axial symptoms of Parkinson disease with mixed results [1]. ... read more
- Psychophysical measurement of the effects and non-effects of TMS on contrast perceptionTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is widely used to establish causal relationships between brain areas and behavior, but its effects on task performance are not fully understood and have rarely been directly compared between protocols. Decreases in performance on psychophysical tasks, such as those observed when applying TMS, can be attributed to either suppression of stimulus-related neural signals, increased random activity (i.e. neural noise), or a combination of both [1,2]. Indeed, evidence for all three hypotheses has been found when using differing methodologies and online stimulation protocols [3–5]. ... read more
- Multi-locus transcranial magnetic stimulation—theory and implementationTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method: a magnetic field pulse from a TMS coil can excite neurons in a desired location of the cortex. Conventional TMS coils cause focal stimulation underneath the coil centre; to change the location of the stimulated spot, the coil must be moved over the new target. This physical movement is inherently slow, which limits, for example, feedback-controlled stimulation. ... read more
- Cortical inhibition assessed using paired-pulse TMS-EEG is increased in older adultsAlterations in inhibitory processes mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) receptors may contribute to age-related functional impairments. However, investigation of these circuits using conventional paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at long interstimulus intervals (∼100-200ms) have produced conflicting results in older adults, possibly due to the indirect nature of the TMS motor evoked potential (MEP). ... read more
- Similar clinical improvement and maintenance after rTMS at 5 Hz using a simple vs. complex protocol in Alzheimer’s diseaseCurrent treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have a limited clinical response and methods, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), are being studied as possible treatments for the clinical symptoms with positive results. However, there is still seldom information on the type of rTMS protocols that deliver the best clinical improvement in AD. Objetive: To compare the clinical response between a simple stimulation protocol on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) against a complex protocol using six regions of interest. ... read more
- Early use of 80 Hz subthalamic stimulation in Parkinson’s disease as an alternative for High-frequency stimulation induced gait changes and postural instabilitySubthalamic nucleus (STN) Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a well-established therapy for Parkinson's Disease (PD) motor symptoms and fluctuations. Symptomatic benefit is usually obtained through High Frequency Stimulation (HFS, 130–185 Hz). However, long-term benefit in appendicular symptoms contrasts with the relative lack of effectiveness in axial symptoms. In fact, HF STN-DBS may cause freezing of gait [1] and is associated with worse dynamic postural control, and higher gait variability [2], mechanisms that could be a cause for the increase in falls reported after DBS in PD, particularly when STN is the target [3]. ... read more
- The intensity of continuous theta burst stimulation, but not the waveform used to elicit motor evoked potentials, influences its outcome in the human motor cortexResponses to continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) applied to the human primary motor cortex are highly variable between individuals. However, little is known about how to improve the after-effects of cTBS by adjusting the protocol characteristics. ... read more
- Artifactual hyperpolarization during extracellular electrical stimulation: Proposed mechanism of high-rate neuromodulation disprovedKilohertz-frequency electric field stimulation (kEFS) applied to the spinal cord can reduce chronic pain without causing the buzzing sensation (paresthesia) associated with activation of dorsal column fibers. This suggests that high-rate spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has a mode of action distinct from conventional, parasthesia-based SCS. A recent study reported that kEFS hyperpolarizes spinal neurons, yet this potentially transformative mode of action contradicts previous evidence that kEFS induces depolarization and was based on patch clamp recordings whose accuracy in the presence of kEFS has not been verified. ... read more