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transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
Indications:
- depression in combination with serotinin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) [1]
- more effective alone than placebo, but less effective than escitalopram [2]
- may be useful for treatment of aphasia after stroke [3]
Procedure:
- application of weak direct current that runs from an anode electrode over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to a cathode electrode over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex Principal:
- current from anode to left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex increases cortical excitability
- current to cathode from right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex decreases cortical excitability
Clinical significance:
- stimulation of diminished right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity & reduction of hemispheric imbalance in depression
- transcranial direct current stimulation activating the right prefrontal cortex might enhance creative thinking [4]
General
transcranial neurostimulation
electrical stimulation
References
- Brunoni AR et al.
The Sertraline vs Electrical Current Therapy for Treating
Depression Clinical Study: Results from a factorial, randomized,
controlled trial.
JAMA Psychiatry 2013 Feb 6
PMID: 23389323
http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1568955
- Brunoni AR, Moffa AH, Sampaio-Junior B, Borrione L et al.
Trial of electrical direct-current therapy versus escitalopram
for depression.
N Engl J Med 2017 Jun 29; 376:2523-2533
PMID: 28657871
http://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1612999
- Fridriksson J, Rorden C, Elm J et al
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation vs Sham Stimulation to
Treat Aphasia After Stroke. A Randomized Clinical Trial
JAMA Neurol. Published online August 20, 2018.
PMID: 30128538
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2696529
- Hertenstein E, Waibelb E, Frase L et al.
Modulation of creativity by transcranial direct current stimulation.
Brain Stimul 2019 Jun 5
PMID: 31231043
https://www.brainstimjrnl.com/article/S1935-861X(19)30229-3/fulltext