Monopolar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) might
selectively affect brainstem reflex pathways: a computational and
neurophysiological study.
Abstract
Non-invasive deep brain stimulation is a novel field of research that
aims to affect deep brain regions’ activity through non-invasive
stimulation. Recent computational and clinical findings have fostered
the interest on transcranial direct current stimulation as non-invasive
deep brain stimulation techniques, and several optimization strategies
have been tested. Multi-electrode transcranial direct current
stimulation has shown the potential to selectively affect deep brain
structures. Here, we assess whether arbitrarily chosen monopolar
multi-electrode transcranial direct current stimulation montages might
selectively affect deep brain structures through computational
predictions and neurophysiological assessment. Electric field
distribution in deep brain structures (i.e., thalamus and midbrain) were
estimated through computational models simulating transcranial direct
current stimulation with two monopolar and two monopolar multi-electrode
montages. Monopolar multi-electrode transcranial direct current
stimulation was then applied to healthy subject, and effects on pontine
and medullary circuitries was evaluated studying changes in blink reflex
and masseter inhibitory reflex. Computational results suggest that
transcranial direct current stimulation with monopolar multi-electrode
montages might induce electric field intensities in deep brain structure
comparable to those in grey matter, while neurophysiological results
disclosed that blink reflex and masseter inhibitory reflex were
selectively modulated by transcranial direct current stimulation only
when cathode was placed over the right deltoid. Therefore,
multi-electrode transcranial direct current stimulation (anodes over
motor cortices, cathode over right deltoid) could induce significant
electric fields in the thalamus and midbrain, and selectively affect
brainstem neural circuits. Such strategy should be further explored in
the context of non-invasive deep brain stimulation.