Does anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over left motor cortex show body side pain-related difference in fibromyalgia? / A estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua anódica sobre o córtex motor esquerdo apresenta diferença na dor entre os hemicorpos na fibromialgia?

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain resulting in central sensitization of nociceptive signaling. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left motor cortex (M1) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique indicated for a broad range of chronic pain disorders, including FM. Studies suggest that left and right M1 (contralateral and ipsilateral hemisphere of tDCS stimulation) are modulated. But it is necessary to clarify the differences in clinical pain perception comparing the right and left side of the body. This study aimed to evaluate the pain-related difference between right-left side of the body after five sessions of anodal tDCS in women with FM. METHODS: A double-blinded, parallel, randomized, sham-controlled trial with 30 women with FM was performed. Five sessions of anodal C3 and cathodal supraorbital (Fp2) tDCS were conducted (2 mA for 20 min). Pain, impact of FM and anxiety were evaluated. No statistically significant three-way interaction between time, stimulation type and body side were found. RESULTS: Active-tDCS showed significant improvement in pain, but impact of FM and anxiety did not show significant improvement. CONCLUSION: Five sessions of anodal tDCS over the left M1 improves pain in women with FM, however there was no difference between right-left body sides.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A fibromialgia (FM) é uma dor musculoesquelética crônica generalizada que resulta na sensibilização central da sinalização nociceptiva. A estimulação transcraniana de corrente contínua (eTCC) sobre o córtex motor esquerdo (M1) é uma técnica de neuromodulação não invasiva indicada para uma ampla gama de distúrbios de dor crônica, incluindo a FM. Estudos sugerem a modulação do M1 esquerdo e direito (hemisfério contralateral e ipsilateral da eTCC). Mas é necessário esclarecer as diferenças na percepção clínica da dor comparando os lados direito e esquerdo do corpo. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a diferença relacionada à dor entre o lado direito e esquerdo do corpo após cinco sessões de eTCC anodal em mulheres com FM. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo duplo-cego, paralelo, randomizado e controlado por sham com 30 mulheres com FM. Foram realizadas cinco sessões de eTCC anodais C3 e supraorbitais catodais (Fp2) (2 mA por 20 min). Foram avaliados a dor, o impacto da FM e a ansiedade. Não foi encontrada nenhuma interação de três vias estatisticamente significativa entre tempo, tipo de estimulação e lado do corpo. RESULTADOS: A eTCC-Ativa mostrou uma melhora significativa na dor, mas o impacto da FM e da ansiedade não mostrou uma melhora significativa. CONCLUSÃO: Cinco sessões de eTCC anodal sobre o M1 esquerdo melhoram a dor nas mulheres com FM, entretanto não houve diferença entre os lados direito e esquerdo do corpo.

Research progresses of noninvasive brain stimulation for the treatment of post-stroke depression / 中国脑血管病杂志

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most common psychological disorders in stroke patients. PSD not only seriously affects patients' functional recovery, quality of life and ability to return to society,but also increases the recurrence rate and mortality of stroke. In recent years,some researchers have applied non-invasive brain stimulation(NIBS) technology to treat PSD,and achieved certain curative effect. The authors reviewed current research progress of noninvasive brain stimulation for the treatment of post-stroke depression.

Intermittent theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation for autism spectrum disorder: an open-label pilot study

Objective: Theta-burst stimulation (TBS) modulates synaptic plasticity more efficiently than standard repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation delivery and may be a promising modality for neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At present there are few effective interventions for prefrontal cortex dysfunction in ASD. We report on an open-label, pilot study of intermittent TBS (iTBS) to target executive function deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors in male children and adolescents with ASD. Methods: Ten right-handed, male participants, aged 9-17 years with ASD were enrolled in an open-label trial of iTBS treatment. Fifteen sessions of neuronavigated iTBS at 100% motor threshold targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were delivered over 3 weeks. Results: Parent report scores on the Repetitive Behavior Scale Revised and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale demonstrated improvements with iTBS treatment. Participants demonstrated improvements in perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and total time for the Stroop test. The iTBS treatments were well tolerated with no serious adverse effects. Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that further controlled interventional studies of iTBS for ASD are warranted.

Mechanism of Neurolasticity after Brain Injury and Neurorehabilitation

Recent studies show central nervous system (CNS) can modify its structure and function in response to different stimuli from the environment although it has limited capacity to regenerate itself. This ability is defined as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the main mechanism of recovery after brain injury, which is related with long term potentiation/depression, synaptic plasticity, growth of dendritic spine, neurotrophines, and neuromodulators. Functional neuroimaging technique including positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can visualize the evidence of neuroplasticity and reorganization of neural network at the system level. Researches demonstrated the evidences of intrahemispheric and interhemispheric reorganizations accompanied with the functional recovery following various brain injuries using functional neuroimaging. Functional imaging technique can also contribute to evaluate the effect of rehabilitation in the clinical setting. Recently, noninvasive brain stimulation such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) were extensively investigated as the new strategies of enhancing neural plasticity. Neurorehabilitation may invite further studies to validate the effect of these emerging therapeutic methods in future.