Brain Stimul
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized controlled trial of transcranial direct-current stimulation and cognitive training in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
This study was a randomized double-blind sham-controlled trial examining the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) augmented cognitive training (CT) in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Prenatal alcohol exposure has profound detrimental effects on brain development and individuals with FASD commonly present with deficits in executive functions including attention and working memory. The most commonly studied treatment for executive deficits is CT, which involves repeated drilling of exercises targeting the impaired functions. As currently implemented, CT requires many hours and the observed effect sizes are moderate. Neuromodulation via tDCS can enhance brain plasticity and prior studies demonstrate that combining tDCS with CT improves efficacy and functional outcomes. TDCS-augmented CT has not yet been tested in FASD, a condition in which there are known abnormalities in neuroplasticity and few interventions. ⋯ These results demonstrate that tDCS-augmented CT is well tolerated in children with FASD and potentially offers benefits over and above CT alone.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Treatment of Executive Function Deficits in autism spectrum disorder with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: A double-blind, sham-controlled, pilot trial.
In youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), executive function (EF) deficits may be a promising treatment target with potential impact on everyday functioning. ⋯ Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for Executive Function Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Effects on Brain Structure: A Pilot Study; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02311751?term = ameis&rank = 1; NCT02311751. The trial was funded by: an American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Pilot Research Award, the Innovation Fund from the Alternate Funding Plan of the Academic Health Sciences Centres of Ontario, and an Ontario Mental Health Foundation (OMHF) Project A Grant and New Investigator Fellowship.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Significant improvement in treatment resistant auditory verbal hallucinations after 5 days of double-blind, randomized, sham controlled, fronto-temporal, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): A replication/extension study.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a potentially novel treatment for antipsychotic-resistant auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) in schizophrenia. Nevertheless, results have been mixed across studies. ⋯ This is the largest study of tDCS for persistent AVH conducted to date. We replicate previous reports of significant therapeutic benefit, but only if medication dosage is considered, with patients receiving lowest medication dosage showing greatest effect. Response was also greatest in patients with lowest levels of cognitive symptoms. Overall, these findings support continued development of tDCS for persistent AVH, but also suggest that response may be influenced by specific patient and treatment characteristics. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT01898299.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Modulation of cortical responses by transcranial direct current stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: A resting-state EEG and TMS-EEG study.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique with potential for cost-effective therapeutic neuromodulation. Although positive therapeutic effects were found by stimulating the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), few studies have investigated physiological effects of DLPFC-tDCS. ⋯ Our study does not provide evidence that a single tDCS session results in significant changes in rs-EEG, using the current stimulation parameters. Significant changes in EEG responses to TMS pulses were observed following the anodal 1.5 mA tDCS interventions, although these changes were not statistically significant in a group comparison.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Less is more - Pulse width dependent therapeutic window in deep brain stimulation for essential tremor.
Shorter pulse widths than conventional pulse width settings may lead to reduction of side effects and therefore be a valuable therapeutic option for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with essential tremor (ET). ⋯ VIM/PSA-DBS with short pulse width represents a promising programming option for DBS in ET as it reduces side effects while maintaining efficient tremor suppression. Furthermore, our data support the notion of pulse width dependent selective modulation of distinct fiber tracts leading to widening of the therapeutic window.