Flash visual evoked potentials in mice can be modulated by transcranial direct current stimulation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) are crucial for studying visual system function and disorders in mice.
• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is known to modulate VEPs in humans.
• The efficacy of tDCS in modulating VEPs in mice remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether tDCS can modulate VEPs in mice in a polarity-dependent manner, mirroring human responses.
• To establish a foundation for using mouse models to explore tDCS mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Main Methods:

• Flash-VEPs were recorded in C57BL/6 mice under sevoflurane anesthesia.
• Mice received 10 minutes of either anodal tDCS, cathodal tDCS, or no stimulation.
• VEP P1 peak amplitudes were analyzed before, and at 0, 5, and 10 minutes after stimulation.

Main Results:

• Anodal tDCS significantly increased P1 amplitude by over 25% compared to no stimulation.
• Cathodal tDCS decreased P1 amplitude by approximately 30%.
• These tDCS effects showed a tendency to return to baseline within 10 minutes post-stimulation.

Conclusions:

• tDCS demonstrates polarity-dependent modulation of VEPs in mice, consistent with findings in humans.
• These results validate the use of mouse models for investigating tDCS mechanisms.
• This research supports the potential of tDCS for therapeutic applications in neurological and visual disorder models.