Modulation of spontaneous alpha brain rhythms using low-intensity transcranial direct-current stimulation

Grazia F Spitoni, Rocco L Cimmino, Chiara Bozzacchi, Luigi Pizzamiglio, Francesco Di Russo, Grazia F Spitoni, Rocco L Cimmino, Chiara Bozzacchi, Luigi Pizzamiglio, Francesco Di Russo

Abstract

Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of neurostimulation in which a constant, low current is delivered directly to the brain area of interest by small electrodes. The overall aim of this study was to examine and monitor the modulation of brain activity by electroencephalogram (EEG) in the frequency domain during tDCS in the resting state. To this end, we considered the modulation of spontaneous EEG to be a marker of the perturbation that was induced through the direct current (1.5 mA for 15 min). In all conditions (anodal, cathodal, and sham), an active electrode was placed over the right posterior parietal cortex, and a reference electrode was placed on the ipsilateral deltoid muscle. The EEG was recorded using a 64-channel system. The effect of tDCS was limited to the alpha rhythm, and the anodal stimulation significantly affected the alpha rhythm, whereas the cathodal stimulation did not elicit any modifications. Further, we observed modulation of alpha activity in areas that were stimulated directly through tDCS and in anterior noncontiguous areas. Finally, the anodal effect peaked 7.5 min after stimulation and decreased gradually over time. Our study demonstrates that in the resting brain, monocephalic anodal tDCS over posterior parietal areas alters ongoing brain activity, specifically in the alpha band rhythm. Our data can be used to fine-tune tDCS protocols in neurorehabilitation settings.

Keywords: alpha rhythm; monocephalic montage; noninvasive electric stimulation; parietal cortex; tDCS-EEG.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Topography of the effect of tDCS for open and closed eyes and anodal and cathodal stimulation. The maps were obtained by subtracting the sham condition from posttest1.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Group grand-averaged EEG spectra of anodal and cathodal stimulation with the eyes open (left panel) and closed (right panel). The black line represents activity before tDCS (pretest), and the red line is activity after tDCS (posttest).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of anodal tDCS on the alpha amplitude recorded from the frontal, parietal, and occipital electrodes.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Topographical maps (top flat view) of the alpha rhythm at 10.5 Hz in 4 conditions—pretest, sham, posttest1, and posttest2—with the eyes were open (upper panel) and closed (lower panel).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Time course of alpha activity during pretest and after the end of anodal tDCS in 8 epochs of 2 min each.

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