Brain Stimul
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on pain perception--an experimental study.
Recent preclinical work strongly suggests that vagus nerve stimulation efficiently modulates nociception and pain processing in humans. Most recently, a medical device has offered a transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (t-VNS) without any surgery. ⋯ Our findings of a reduced sensitivity of mechanically evoked pain and an inhibition of temporal summation of noxious tonic heat in healthy volunteers may pave the way for future studies on patients with chronic pain addressing the potential analgesic effects of t-VNS under clinical conditions.
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Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have been frequently used to explore changes in motor cortex excitability in stroke and traumatic brain injury, while the extent of motor cortex reorganization in patients with diffuse non-traumatic brain injury remains largely unknown. ⋯ The present study demonstrated the impairment of the cortical inhibitory circuits in patients with brain injury of traumatic and non-traumatic aetiology. Moreover, the significant correlation was found between the amount of SICI and the severity of brain injury.
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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is currently being evaluated as a potential therapy in improving memory functions in Alzheimer's disease. The target for DBS and the stimulation parameters to be used are unknown. Here, we implanted bilateral electrodes in the vicinity of the fornix, a key element of the memory circuitry, and applied DBS with different stimulation frequencies and amplitudes in an experimental model of dementia. ⋯ With the most optimal stimulation parameter, we found no side-effects on anxiety levels and general motor activity. These findings identify the fornix as a key region in controlling spatial memory functions. DBS of this region, using tailored stimulation parameters, has the potential to improve memory functions in conditions characterised by memory impairment.
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The ventrointermediate nucleus (Vim) of the thalamus is still considered "invisible" on current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), requiring indirect methods based on stereotactic atlases for estimation of its location. Direct visualization of Vim is desirable to improve targeting. ⋯ 1.5-T MRI with WAIR sequence provides high-quality images of Vim suitable in DBS surgery, for accurate preoperative planning, direct targeting and anatomic analysis.