Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is gaining growing importance in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and is currently investigated for home-based and remotely supervised applications. ⋯ Further research needs to focus on home-based treatment from different viewpoints, that is, safety, technical monitoring, reproducibility of repeated applications, feasibility of combined interventions and systematic assessment of efficacy, and safety in large randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). However, remotely controlled and supervised tDCS for home use represents a promising approach for widespread use of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) in clinical care.
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To assess if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) produces a temperature change at the skin surface, if any change is stimulation polarity (anode or cathode) specific, and the contribution of passive heating (joule heat) or blood flow on such change. ⋯ Taken together, our results indicate a moderate and nonhazardous increase in temperature at the skin surface during 2 mA tDCS that is independent of polarity, and results from stimulation induced blood flow rather than joule heat.
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High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) using a 4 × 1 electrode montage has been previously shown using modeling and physiological studies to constrain the electric field within the spatial extent of the electrodes. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to determine if functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neuroimaging can be used to determine a hemodynamic correlate of this 4 × 1 HD-tDCS electric field on the brain. ⋯ The greater O2 Hbint "within" than "outside" the spatial extent of the 4 × 1 electrode montage represents a hemodynamic correlate of the electrical field distribution, and thus provides a prospective reliable method to determine the dose of stimulation that is necessary to optimize HD-tDCS parameters in various applications.
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Persistent mild traumatic brain injury related headache (MTBI-HA) represents a neuropathic pain state. This study tested the hypothesis that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at the left prefrontal cortex can alleviate MTBI-HA and associated neuropsychological dysfunctions. ⋯ A short-course rTMS at the left DLPFC can alleviate MTBI-HA symptoms and provide a transient mood enhancing benefit. Further studies are required to establish a clinical protocol balancing both treatment efficacy and patient compliance.