A novel technique called transcranial current stimulation (TCS) creates small electrical fields in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp. As a method for neuromodulation, TCS carries with it many practical benefits: it is portable (battery-operated), inexpensive, and easily deployable in the clinic and at home. Due to this simplicity and apparent versatility there has been an explosion in the number of studies currently underway using either direct or alternating transcranial currents (over 500 clinical trials are listed with clinicaltrials.gov). Despite this ubiquitous use of the technique in clinical and basic research, there is substantial uncertainly as to its mechanism of action, and even its basic dosage/response relationships are poorly understood. This project will use intracranial recordings in the primary visual cortex of nonhuman primates to understand how TCS changes neural activity.
The first aim i s to understand the parameters (e.g. current strength, electrode montage, duration) that affect the ability of direct currents to modulate neural excitability (tDCS).
The second aim i s to understand the parameters that affect the neuromodulatory efficacy of transcranial random noise currents (tRNS).
The third aim i s to understand the parameters that affect the efficacy of alternating currents (tACS).

Public Health Relevance

In transcranial current stimulation two or more electrodes are placed on the head and low level currents are passed between them. This technique is increasingly being used in the clinic to alleviate the symptoms of depression, reduce epileptic seizures, and even to increase cognitive performance in healthy volunteers. However, very little is known about the nature of the neural changes induced by transcranial currents. This project combines intracranial recordings in animals with transcranial stimulation to determine how current strength, duration, and pattern affect neural information processing. These insights are essential for the rational design of electrotherapy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH111766-03
Application #
9529691
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZMH1)
Program Officer
Friedman, Fred K
Project Start
2016-09-23
Project End
2020-06-30
Budget Start
2018-07-01
Budget End
2019-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Rutgers University
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
130029205
City
Newark
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
Kar, Kohitij; Duijnhouwer, Jacob; Krekelberg, Bart (2017) Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Attenuates Neuronal Adaptation. J Neurosci 37:2325-2335
Klingenhoefer, Steffen; Krekelberg, Bart (2017) Perisaccadic visual perception. J Vis 17:16
Joukes, Jeroen; Yu, Yunguo; Victor, Jonathan D et al. (2017) Recurrent Network Dynamics; a Link between Form and Motion. Front Syst Neurosci 11:12