Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Electrical stimulation via implanted electrodes that overlie the cortex of the brain is an upcoming neurosurgical technique that was hindered for a long time by insufficient knowledge of how the brain functions in a dynamic, physiological, and pathological way, as well as by technological limitations of the implantable stimulation devices. ⋯ In conclusion, cortex stimulation is a nascent but very promising approach to treating a variety of diseases, but requires further technological development for predicting outcomes, such as network science based functional connectivity approaches, genetic analyses, development of navigated transcranial electrical stimulation, and development of pseudorandom stimulation designs for preventing habituation.
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The safety, painless, and tolerability features of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) have prompted the research on the therapeutic effects of this technique in stroke; however, an in-depth and unarguable examination of the adverse effects of tDCS in stroke patients is still lacking. This review analyzes the reported adverse effects in stroke, looking for factors that may induce side-effects. ⋯ In the majority of stroke patients, tDCS did not induce any severe adverse effect. Regrettably, many published papers did not provide a careful description of exclusion criteria, nor a systematic report of side effects. Our work emphasizes the need of a more meticulous description of the adopted exclusion criteria and of the induced adverse effects, in order to optimize the therapeutic use of tDCS and to better delineate its safety parameters in stroke.