Clancy, JA, Johnson, R, Raw, R et al. (2 more authors) (2014) Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Over the Motor Cortex Increases Sympathetic Nerve Activity. Brain Stimulation, 7 (1). pp. 97-104. ISSN 1935-861X
Abstract
Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is currently being investigated as a non-invasive neuromodulation therapy for a range of conditions including stroke rehabilitation. tDCS affects not only the area underlying the electrodes but also other areas of the cortex and subcortical structures. This could lead to unintended alteration in brain functions such as autonomic control.
Objective: We investigated the potential effects of tDCS on cardiovascular autonomic function in healthy volunteers.
Methods: Anodal (n = 14) or cathodal (n = 8) tDCS at 1 mA was applied over the primary motor cortex with the second electrode placed on the contralateral supraorbital region. Subjects visited the department twice and received active or sham tDCS for 15 min. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration were recorded at baseline, during tDCS and after stimulation. Heart rate variability (HRV) was calculated using spectral analysis of beat-to-beat intervals derived from ECG data. Microneurography was also used to record muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA; n = 5).
Results: Anodal tDCS caused a significant shift in HRV toward sympathetic predominance (P = 0.017), whereas there was no significant change in the cathodal or sham groups. Microneurography results also showed a significant increase in MSNA during anodal tDCS that continued post-stimulation.
Conclusions: Anodal tDCS of the motor cortex shifts autonomic nervous system balance toward sympathetic dominance due at least in part to an increase in sympathetic output. These results suggest further investigation is warranted on tDCS use in patient groups with potential autonomic dysfunction, such as stroke patients.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Brain Stimulation. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Brain Stimulation, 7 (1), 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2013.08.005 |
Keywords: | Autonomic nervous system; Microneurography; Sympathetic nerve activity; Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) > School of Biomedical Sciences (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Medical Education The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Psychology (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 04 Mar 2014 12:07 |
Last Modified: | 01 Dec 2020 16:36 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2013.08.005 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.brs.2013.08.005 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:77946 |