Non-invasive brain stimulation to treat cognitive symptoms of Parkinson's disease
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| Year of publication | 2019 |
| Type | Article in Periodical (without peer review) |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | Transcranial non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques include particularly repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), although other noninvasive stimulation techniques have also been employed. The rTMS uses a rapidly changing magnetic field to induce currents and action potentials in underlying brain tissue. The tDCS involves the application of weak (1–2mA) electrical currents to modulate neuronal membrane potential. Although the precise mechanisms of NIBS aftereffects have not been fully elucidated, rTMS has been shown to modulate several neurotransmitter systems, increase neurotrophic factors, and induce changes on neuronal synapses by long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD)-like mechanisms (for review, see Rektorova and Anderkova 2017). LTD-like mechanisms also apply for the underpinnings of tDCS. The aftereffects of NIBS depend on the stimulation protocols and on the precise coil/electrode placement as well as on the current “state” of the brain. Both rTMS and tDCS can be used to excite (high-frequency rTMS, anodal tDCS) or inhibit (low-frequency rTMS, cathodal tDCS) the underlying cortical tissue; the evidence pertains to NIBS applied over the motor cortex, but it may vary when the NIBS is targeted to sites other than motor cortices (e.g. L. Brabenec et al., 2015). |
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