Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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The primary objective of this study was to explore the impact of noninvasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation (nVNS) on brain electrophysiology, as assessed through spontaneous resting-state EEG and stimulus-driven event-related potentials (ERPs). ⋯ Brief nVNS leads to changes in a sub-set of resting-state and event-related electrophysiologic indices of brain activity. These changes are believed to be mediated by vagal afferent projections to the nucleus of the solitary tract, which in turn regulates several neurotransmitter systems through known direct and indirect neuroanatomic pathways.
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Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) is widely used for headache syndromes including chronic migraine (CM) and chronic cluster headache (CCH). The paraesthesia associated with tonic stimulation can be bothersome and can limit therapy. It is now clear in spinal cord stimulation that paraesthesia-free waveforms can produce effective analgesia, but this has not been reported in ONS for CM or CCH. ⋯ Paraesthesia is not necessary for good quality analgesia in ONS. Larger studies will be required to determine whether the efficacies of the two stimulation modes differ. Burst ONS is imperceptible and therefore potentially amenable to robustly blinded clinical trials.
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To investigate whether peripheral electrical stimulation (PES) of back extensor muscles changes excitability of the corticospinal pathway of the stimulated muscle and synergist trunk muscles. ⋯ Results indicate that, unlike previous reports that show increased corticospinal excitability of limb muscles, PES of back muscles does not modify the corticospinal excitability. This difference in response of the motor pathway of back muscles to PES might be explained by the lesser importance of voluntary cortical drive to these muscles and the greater role of postural networks. Whether PES influences back muscle training remains unclear, yet the present results suggest that potential effects are unlikely to be explained by the effects of PES at corticospinal level with the parameters used in this study.
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Current perception threshold (CPT) measurement is a noninvasive, easy, and semi-objective method for determining sensory function using transcutaneous electrical stimulation. Previous studies have shown that CPT is determined by physical characteristics, such as sex, age, physical sites, and presence of neuropathy. Although the CPT reported in males is clearly higher than that in females, the reason for this difference remains unclear. This study investigates the cause of sex-based differences in CPT and suggests an adjustment method, which may suppress the sex difference in CPT. ⋯ We conclude that sensitivity for perceiving electrical stimulation can be influenced by the subjects' characteristics, such as body fat or body water percentages.
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We aimed to investigate if different protocols of electrical stimulation following nerve injury might improve neuropathic pain outcomes and modify associated plastic changes at the spinal cord level. ⋯ Daily electrical stimulation, especially if frequency-patterned, was effective in ameliorating hyperalgesia after nerve injury, and partially preventing the proinflammatory and hyperalgesic changes in the dorsal horn associated to neuropathic pain.