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Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) decreases heart rate acutely in neonatal rats
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is an exciting non-invasive extension of traditional invasive cervical VNS. However, it is still unclear what vagus fibers taVNS engages and whether taVNS has measurable effects in reducing heart rate (HR) to assess parasympathetic nervous system activation. Ongoing research and clinical applications pairing VNS with activities promoting learning and stroke recovery are promising [1]. taVNS has also been used in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury and may improve their oromotor coordination during feeding [2].
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - August 21, 2023 Category: Neurology Authors: Melanie W. Gail, Catrina Sims-Robinson, Heather Boger, Adviye Ergul, Rupak Mukherjee, Dorothea D. Jenkins, Mark S. George Source Type: research

How to fail with paired VNS therapy
We present a discussion of the concepts that underlie VNS therapy and an anthology of studies that describe conditions in which these concepts are violated and VNS fails.
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - August 16, 2023 Category: Neurology Authors: Seth A. Hays, Robert L. Rennaker, Michael P. Kilgard Source Type: research

Feasibility of home-based, self-applied transcranial direct current stimulation to enhance motor learning in middle-aged and older adults
We read with great interest the recent letter sent to you by McConnell and colleagues [1], in which they discuss one of the first applications of truly independent home-based electrical brain stimulation, applied following safety recommendations. Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique capable of modulating cortical excitability beyond the stimulation period [2,3]. tDCS presents interesting options as a therapeutic intervention in multiple neurological disorders, such as stroke, depression, chronic pain, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer ’s and Parkinson’s disease [4,5].
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - September 23, 2019 Category: Neurology Authors: Pablo Maceira-Elvira, Traian Popa, Anne-Christine Schmid, Friedhelm C. Hummel Source Type: research

Artificial Grammar Learning with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): A Pilot Study
The relationship between attention and learning has been well-established [1], with many studies showing that increased attention can improve learning and decreased attention can be detrimental to learning. Although stroke-induced aphasia is defined as a primary language impairment, many persons with aphasia also have attention deficits [2]. Sustained attention, the ability to maintain attention to a stimulus for an extended period of time, is an important prerequisite for participating in speech and language therapy and has been shown to be impaired in persons with aphasia [2].
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - July 1, 2019 Category: Neurology Authors: Ellyn A. Riley, Ying Wu Source Type: research

Primary motor cortex plasticity is enhanced by transcranial direct current stimulation in mice: underlying molecular mechanisms and impact on motor performance
There is a consistent body of evidence showing that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the motor cortex facilitates motor learning and promotes motor recovery after stroke.
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - January 22, 2019 Category: Neurology Authors: M. Podda, V. Longo, S. Barbati, S. Cocco, K. Gironi, A. Mattera, M. Spinelli, C. Grassi Source Type: research

Inhibition of tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) reduces the benefit of cortical stimulation combined with motor rehabilitation in experimental stroke
Clinical and experimental studies suggest that combining impaired limb rehabilitation (RT) with low-frequency inhibitory contra-lesion or high-frequency excitatory ipsi-lesion motor cortical stimulation (CS) can improve motor recovery and increase neural remodeling. However, results have been mixed and there is no consensus on which CS approach is more beneficial. Further, the mechanism by which excitatory CS (ECS) and inhibitory CS (ICS) alter motor recovery after stroke are unknown. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) are important for motor learning and neural pl...
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - January 22, 2019 Category: Neurology Authors: S. Kinley Cooper, D. Adkins, A. Rizzo, K. Kinley-Howard Source Type: research

Development of Closed-loop Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) as a Neurorehabilitation Tool
Background: Motor rehabilitation training is considered the optimal method in reducing motor impairments in patients with brain injury. Noninvasive brain stimulation has recently demonstrated promise as a potential adjunct to enhance the outcomes of conventional post-stroke motor rehabilitation. Specifically, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) paired with oromotor therapy to learn feeding behavior (Badran Jenkins, 2018) has emerged as a novel therapeutic avenue. Synchronization of taVNS with the specific motor behavior is believed to be critical to patient outcomes.
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - January 22, 2019 Category: Neurology Authors: B. Badran, D. Jenkins, W. DeVries, M. Dancy, D. Cook, G. Mappin, M. George Source Type: research

BDNF Val66Met but not transcranial direct current stimulation affects motor learning after stroke
tDCS is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that has been reported to improve motor skill learning after stroke. However, the contribution of tDCS to motor skill learning has only been investigated in a small number of studies. In addition, it is unclear if tDCS effects are mediated by activity-dependent BDNF release and dependent on timing of tDCS relative to training.
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - July 13, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Rick van der Vliet, Gerard M. Ribbers, Yves Vandermeeren, Maarten A. Frens, Ruud W. Selles Source Type: research

The role of inhibition in motor performance and learning
Introduction: Understanding the neurophysiological underpinnings of motor plasticity is of prime importance, not least for developing novel therapeutic approaches after a stroke. There is substantial evidence from animal models to support the hypothesis that modulation of GABA, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter, is a necessary step in motor learning. However, until recently it has been difficult to assess whether GABA is necessary for plasticity in vivo in humans.
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - February 15, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: J. Kolasinski, A. Johnstone, V. Bachtiar, C.J. Stagg Source Type: research

The role of the cerebellum on motor recovery following stroke
The cerebellum is a critical structure for motor control and learning. The cerebellum does not have direct connections to lower motor neurons. However, its extensive connections to distribute motor regions and its role on motor control make it a structure that plays an important role in motor function following cerebral lesions. In addition, due to the cerebellar involvement in motor learning it plays an important when learning how to compensate for motor deficits arising from stroke. Indeed, previous studies suggested that restoration of cerebellar activation following diaschisis is associated with overall recovery follow...
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - February 15, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: P. Celnik Source Type: research

Eyelid Myokymia in an Older Subject After Repetitive Sessions of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have developed into useful tools to study brain functions, like motor learning , physiological changes of the brain like during healthy aging or pathological conditions (e.g., stroke, parkinson, tinnitus, among others) . Furthermore they are more and more applied and evaluated as therapeutic tools to treat neuropsychiatric diseases . The evolution of these techniques emphasizes the importance to report possible adverse effects. Here, we present a case with occurrence of monocular eyelid myokymia after repetitive application of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the motor cortex.
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - November 5, 2012 Category: Neurology Authors: M. Wessel, M. Zimerman, J.E. Timmermann, F.C. Hummel Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research