Review
Neurosciences
Khaled Nasr, David Haslacher, Eran Dayan, Nitzan Censor, Leonardo G. Cohen, Surjo R. Soekadar
Summary: The article provides a comprehensive review of the current state of interacting with human brain activity, highlighting limitations and recent efforts to overcome them. Despite advancements in noninvasive methods, there are still limitations in spatial specificity and understanding of neural mechanisms. The article also introduces new methods for interacting with brain activity, such as task-irrelevant sensory stimulation and focal ultrasound stimulation. Finally, it argues for a paradigm shift towards adaptive closed-loop stimulation to advance human neuroscience.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Larry E. Shupe, Frank P. Miles, Geoff Jones, Richy Yun, Jonathan Mishler, Irene Rembado, R. Logan Murphy, Steve I. Perlmutter, Eberhard E. Fetz
Summary: NC3 is a multichannel bidirectional brain-computer interface that operates autonomously and supports closed-loop activity-dependent stimulation. It consists of six main components and has been successfully deployed in many closed-loop operations in neuroprosthetics and neurorehabilitation.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Konstantin Weise, William A. Wartman, Thomas R. Knoesche, Aapo R. Nummenmaa, Sergey N. Makarov
Summary: This study investigates the impact of the meningeal layers on the cortical electric field in transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The results show that the presence of the meninges significantly increases the maximum electric fields in the cortex during TES, while the effect on TMS electric fields is minor. The findings provide a quantitative understanding of the influence of the meninges on TES and TMS and can contribute to the development of more accurate brain stimulation models.
Review
Neurosciences
Richard G. Carson, Alison R. Buick
Summary: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has proven to be useful in motor rehabilitation following brain injury, promoting sustained adaptations within central motor pathways and ultimately increasing functional capacity. Understanding the mechanisms of adaptation can inform neurorehabilitation practice and provide a means of studying CNS plasticity at a systems level in humans. The fundamental aspects of NMES, along with adjuvant techniques, play a crucial role in enhancing therapeutic potential.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shuxun Dong, Jiaqing Yan, Zhenyu Xie, Yi Yuan, Hui Ji
Summary: The modulation effect of closed-loop transcranial ultrasound stimulation on theta rhythm depends on the stimulation mode and duration, showing that with peak stimulation, the relative change in amplitude and absolute power of theta rhythm decreases with the number of stimulation trials. Additionally, the relative change in amplitude and absolute power of theta rhythm increases nonlinearly with the stimulation duration under peak stimulation. This suggests that TUS has the potential to precisely modulate theta rhythm-related neural activity.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sebastian Shaner, Han Lu, Maximilian Lenz, Shreyash Garg, Andreas Vlachos, Maria Asplund
Summary: We developed a microfluidic platform for precise electrical stimulation on brain tissue slices, overcoming conventional concerns with electric dosage and electrochemical reactions by utilizing precise fluidic, electrochemical, and magnetic control.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jin Seung Choung, Sohom Bhattacharjee, Jeong Pyo Son, Jong Moon Kim, Dong Sik Cho, Choon Sik Cho, MinYoung Kim
Summary: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is being explored as a new treatment technique for brain lesions, but the effects in animals cannot directly represent the effects in humans due to differences in size and mechanistic characteristics. This study aimed to develop a mouse rTMS device to simulate clinical application. The magnetic field intensity generated by the mouse coil was lower than that by the human coil, and the predicted simulation values matched the measured intensity in vivo. Further research using miniaturized rTMS devices for mice should be conducted to make the findings more relevant to humans.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Wenbin Zhang, Aiguo Song, Hong Zeng, Baoguo Xu, Minmin Miao
Summary: The study introduces a new EEG phase-dependent closed-loop mechanical vibration stimulation method to enhance MI performance, showing improvements in both event-related desynchronization and classification accuracy. Participants reported less tactile fatigue under this method compared to continuous stimulation, indicating its potential for more precise and efficient stimulation in MI-based BCI research.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
S. N. Makarov, W. A. Wartman, G. M. Noetscher, K. Fujimoto, T. Zaidi, E. H. Burnham, M. Daneshzand, A. Nummenmaa
Summary: The optimized TMS inverse problem solutions improve the focality of the electric field induced by TMS and reduce the size of the field hot spot near the target. Additionally, uncertainties in coil position/orientation, conductivity, and head segmentation accuracy affect the performance of TMS-IP.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yuichi Takeuchi, Mark Harangozo, Lizeth Pedraza, Tamas Foldi, Gabor Kozak, Qun Li, Antal Berenyi
Summary: The study demonstrates that closed-loop electrical stimulation of the medial septum can effectively terminate intrahippocampal seizures and suppress secondary generalization, emphasizing the importance of internally driven stimulus timing. By precisely activating medial septum GABAergic neurons, successful intervention in pathological oscillations was achieved, providing a new avenue for future clinical translation in other neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Review
Neurosciences
Abdelkader Nasreddine Belkacem, Nuraini Jamil, Sumayya Khalid, Fady Alnajjar
Summary: Emerging brain technologies, such as closed-loop brain-computer interface (BCI), have transformed human life by interpreting and controlling neuronal signals. This paper analyzes the latest research on closed-loop BCI using various stimulation techniques, highlighting its potential in improving the lives of patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mohd Faizal Mohd Zulkifly, Ornela Merkohitaj, Juergen Brockmoeller, Walter Paulus
Summary: The study investigated the impact of caffeine on brain plasticity and found that it increased motor cortex excitability in caffeine-naive subjects, enhanced PAS 25 effects, and affected alertness and motor evoked potentials under light deprivation. Time of day had no effect on tACS-induced plasticity in caffeine consumers.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yingnan Nie, Xuanjun Guo, Xiao Li, Xinyi Geng, Yan Li, Zhaoyu Quan, Guanyu Zhu, Zixiao Yin, Jianguo Zhang, Shouyan Wang
Summary: The irregular sampling method proposed in this study effectively removed stimulation artifacts in both simulation signals and in vivo experiments, showing potential for developing advanced closed-loop DBS strategies.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matteo Guidetti, Mattia Arlotti, Tommaso Bocci, Anna Maria Bianchi, Marta Parazzini, Roberta Ferrucci, Alberto Priori
Summary: Transcranial electrical stimulation techniques, such as tDCS and tACS, can induce neurophysiological and behavioral modifications by inducing electric fields in the brain. The estimation of these electric fields is mainly based on computational studies, but in vivo measurements have been used to further expand our current knowledge. This review summarizes the estimations of tDCS- and tACS-induced electric fields recorded in humans and non-human primates using intracerebral electrodes. The results suggest that even for deep brain structures, the injected current in clinical stimulation protocols can reach the brain, and the stimulation parameters and individual anatomy can determine the intensity and effects of the stimulation on neuronal and non-neuronal cell activity.
Review
Neurosciences
Sara Simula, Maeva Daoud, Giulio Ruffini, Maria Chiara Biagi, Christian-G Benar, Pascal Benquet, Fabrice Wendling, Fabrice Bartolomei
Summary: Transcranial electrical current stimulation (tES) has been proposed as a non-invasive therapy for pharmacoresistant epilepsy. This systematic review summarizes the clinical and fundamental effects of tES in epilepsy patients. The review shows that both direct current (tDCS) and alternating current (tACS) stimulation are safe and clinically relevant techniques for epilepsy. Further research is needed to understand the specific effects of tES on epileptic brain activity and to optimize stimulation parameters for personalized therapy.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Kathrin Machetanz, Florian Grimm, Sophie Wang, Benjamin Bender, Marcos Tatagiba, Alireza Gharabaghi, Georgios Naros
Summary: The study found that different registration techniques in robot-assisted stereotaxy (RAS) can impact the accuracy and time efficiency of the surgery. Some registration techniques can improve accuracy, but may also increase time consumption.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER ASSISTED SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Florian Grimm, Jelena Kraugmann, Georgios Naros, Alireza Gharabaghi
Summary: The study demonstrated the validity of a device-assisted approach in assessing severely impaired stroke patients' upper limb movements. Shoulder internal/external rotation was found to be a significant predictor in the clinical status, suggesting its relevance in the evaluation of stroke patients. These findings provide a promising new method for assessing severely impaired stroke patients and should be further validated in larger patient cohorts.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2021)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Simon Ruch, Michael Valiadis, Alireza Gharabaghi
Article
Neurosciences
Marius Keute, Alireza Gharabaghi
Summary: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) enhances the effect of motor rehabilitation training on functional recovery by fostering a neurochemical milieu that facilitates synaptic plasticity and supports reinforcement mechanisms. Optimal VNS delivery is time-critical and parameter space needs to be titrated for effect maximization, with promising results seen in both invasive and non-invasive VNS studies in stroke patients.
AUTONOMIC NEUROSCIENCE-BASIC & CLINICAL
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Kathrin Machetanz, Levan Berelidze, Robert Guggenberger, Alireza Gharabaghi
Summary: The study demonstrates that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation can increase heart rate variability, with effects influenced by stimulation location and parameters. Adjusting pulse duration and current intensity can effectively enhance heart rate variability. The results suggest that the cymba conchae and fossa triangularis are the most effective stimulation targets.
AUTONOMIC NEUROSCIENCE-BASIC & CLINICAL
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Maria-Sophie Breu, Marlieke Schneider, Johannes Klemt, Idil Cebi, Alireza Gharabaghi, Daniel Weiss
Summary: This study found increased muscle activation of the alpha and lower beta bands in PD freezers compared to healthy controls, and this was attenuated with STN-DBS, which paralleled the clinical improvement of freezing.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Anne Koy, Andrea A. Kuehn, Julius Huebl, Gerd-Helge Schneider, Anne K. van Riesen, Matthias Eckenweiler, Cornelia Rensing-Zimmermann, Volker Arnd Coenen, Joachim K. Krauss, Assel Saryyeva, Hans Hartmann, Martin Haeussler, Jens Volkmann, Cordula Matthies, Annette Horn, Alfons Schnitzler, Jan Vesper, Alireza Gharabaghi, Daniel Weiss, Andrea Bevot, Warren Marks, Angela Pomykal, Elegast Monbaliu, Guntram Borck, Joerg Mueller, Reinhild Prinz-Langenohl, Till Dembek, Veerle Visser-Vandewalle, Jochen Wirths, Petra Schiller, Martin Hellmich, Lars Timmermann
Summary: DBS treatment may improve quality of life in pediatric patients with pharmacorefractory dyskinetic cerebral palsy, but current evidence is not yet sufficient to recommend it as a routine treatment method, further research is needed.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Inken Toedt, Bassam Al-Fatly, Oliver Granert, Andrea A. Kuehn, Paul Krack, Joern Rau, Lars Timmermann, Alfons Schnitzler, Steffen Paschen, Ann-Kristin Helmers, Andreas Hartmann, Eric Bardinet, Michael Schuepbach, Michael T. Barbe, Till A. Dembek, Valerie Fraix, Dorothee Kuebler, Christine Brefel-Courbon, Alireza Gharabaghi, Lars Wojtecki, Marcus O. Pinsker, Stephane Thobois, Philippe Damier, Tatiana Witjas, Jean-Luc Houeto, Carmen Schade-Brittinger, Marie Vidailhet, Andreas Horn, Guenther Deuschl
Summary: This study assessed the impact of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease, finding a correlation between the stimulated part of the STN and improvements in symptom control and quality of life.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Kathrin Machetanz, Florian Grimm, Sophie Wang, Martin U. Schuhmann, Marcos Tatagiba, Alireza Gharabaghi, Georgios Naros
Summary: Robot-assisted, transcerebellar stereotaxy can improve the risk-benefit ratio of brainstem biopsies by avoiding the restrictions of a transfrontal approach and conventional frame-based stereotaxy. Profound registration and anatomical-functional trajectory selection were essential to reduce mortality and morbidity.
NEUROSURGICAL FOCUS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Miriam Bender, Marcos Tatagiba, Alireza Gharabaghi
Summary: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and perceived benefit play important roles in medical decision-making. This study compared HRQoL and perceived benefit in patients undergoing surgical treatment for vestibular schwannoma (VS), and explored the influence of comorbid depression.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Bettina Hanna Trunk, Lukas Ziegler, Alireza Gharabaghi
Article
Neurosciences
Georgios Naros, Kathrin Machetanz, Maria Teresa Leao, Sophie Wang, Marcos Tatagiba, Alireza Gharabaghi
Summary: This study investigated the impact of glial brain tumors on the functional corticospinal integrity and found that conventional MEP features were unreliable in reflecting this impact. Frequency-domain MEP features, on the other hand, provided a better assessment of motor impairment.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Robert Guggenberger, Bettina Hanna Trunk, Sine Canbolat, Lukas Ziegler, Alireza Gharabaghi
Summary: This study evaluated the reliability and validity of ipsilateral motor-evoked potentials (iMEP) induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation in healthy adults. The results showed significant variations in iMEP estimation between different algorithms, and template-based approaches may be more valid. This is important for the selection and development of analysis algorithms for magnetically induced potentials.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Agnes Langer, Lara Lucke-Paulig, Lucia Gassner, Rejko Krueger, Daniel Weiss, Alireza Gharabaghi, Heidemarie Zach, Walter Maetzler, Markus A. Hobert
Summary: This study compared the effects of deep brain stimulation and dopaminergic medication on gait parameters in patients with advanced Parkinson disease. The results showed that dopaminergic medication had larger additional effects on gait parameters under both single-tasking and dual-tasking conditions, while deep brain stimulation only improved specific gait parameters.
Article
Neurosciences
Kathrin Machetanz, Florian Grimm, Ruth Schaefer, Leonidas Trakolis, Helene Hurth, Patrick Haas, Alireza Gharabaghi, Marcos Tatagiba, Georgios Naros
Summary: This study introduces a cost-effective custom-made EMG biofeedback system for facial rehabilitation, demonstrating its good application potential in both healthy subjects and patients with facial palsy. There is a correlation between electrophysiological measurements and clinical outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
