Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: The cerebellum is critical for both motor and cognitive control. Dysfunction of the cerebellum is a component of multiple neurological disorders. In recent years, interventions have been developed that aim to excite or inhibit the activity and function of the human cerebellum. Transcranial direct current stimulation of the cerebellum (ctDCS) promises to be a powerful tool for the modulation of cerebellar excitability. This technique has gained popularity in recent years as it can be used to investigate human cerebellar function, is easily delivered, is well tolerated, and has not shown serious adverse effects. Importantly, the ability of ctDCS to modify behavior makes it an interesting approach with a potential therapeutic role for neurological patients. Through both electrical and non-electrical effects (vascular, metabolic) ctDCS is thought to modify the activity of the cerebellum and alter the output from cerebellar nuclei. Physiological studies have shown a polarity-specific effect on the modulation of cerebellar-motor cortex connectivity, likely via cerebellar-thalamocortical pathways. Modeling studies that have assessed commonly used electrode montages have shown that the ctDCS-generated electric field reaches the human cerebellum with little diffusion to neighboring structures. The posterior and inferior parts of the cerebellum (i.e., lobules VI-VIII) seem particularly susceptible to modulation by ctDCS. Numerous studies have shown to date that ctDCS can modulate motor learning, and affect cognitive and emotional processes. Importantly, this intervention has a good safety profile; similar to when applied over cerebral areas. Thus, investigations have begun exploring ctDCS as a viable intervention for patients with neurological conditions.
Source: The Neuroscientist
Authors: Giuliana Grimaldi, Georgios P. Argyropoulos, Amy Bastian, Mar Cortes, Nicholas J. Davis, Dylan J. Edwards, Roberta Ferrucci, Felipe Fregni, Joseph M. Galea, Masahi Hamada, Mario Manto, R. Chris Miall, Leon Morales-Quezada, Paul A. Pope, Alberto Priori, John Rothwell, S. Paul Tomlinson, Pablo Celnik
Institutions: Université Libre de Bruxelles, University of London, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Cornell University, Burke Medical Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Swansea University, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Harvard University, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Birmingham, The University of Tokyo, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, Bangor University
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Estimated APC paid: $712
Funders: Wellcome Trust, Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G10808429, G1094093886, G2328994126, G2570442181, G3841645046, Identifying the behavioural and biological mechanisms underpinning elite performance in aiming tasks, Establishing a trans-atlantic partnership for studying the neural networks for motor skill learning in the human brain, G6674174487, Transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of neurological disorders, G6971148643, G7590439661, G8706457535, G9000032205, G9000202626
OpenAlex ID: W2105145689