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Brain Imaging

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Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Non-Invasive Electrical Brain Stimulation Montages for Modulation of Human Motor Function

Non-Invasive Electrical Brain Stimulation Montages for Modulation of Human Motor Function

Published on: February 4, 2016

Modifying somatosensory processing with non-invasive brain stimulation.

Sunbin Song¹, Marco Sandrini, Leonardo G Cohen

¹Human Cortical Physiology and Stroke Neurorehabilitation Section, NINDS, NIH, MD20892, USA.

Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience

|November 30, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NBS) can modulate somatosensory processing. Specific protocols using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can enhance or inhibit cortical excitability and tactile acuity.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

Cortical plasticity and excitability in somatosensory regions hold therapeutic potential.
Non-invasive brain stimulation (NBS) techniques offer promising avenues for modulating these neural properties.
Understanding NBS effects on somatosensory processing is crucial for clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To review NBS protocols targeting the primary somatosensory cortex.
To identify NBS strategies that facilitate or inhibit cortical excitability and tactile acuity.
To explore the modulation of somatosensory processing via multisensory region stimulation.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on NBS protocols applied to somatosensory cortex.
Categorization of protocols based on their effect (facilitation or inhibition).
Analysis of specific NBS techniques including repetitive TMS (rTMS), theta burst stimulation (TBS), paired associative stimulation (PAS), and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Main Results:

High-frequency rTMS, intermittent TBS, PAS (N20-5 to 0), and anodal tDCS facilitate cortical excitability and tactile acuity.
Low-frequency rTMS, continuous TBS, PAS (N20-20), and cathodal tDCS inhibit cortical excitability.
Studies targeting multisensory regions also demonstrate modulation of somatosensory processing.

Conclusions:

NBS offers a versatile toolkit for influencing somatosensory processing.
Specific NBS protocols can be selected to either enhance or reduce cortical excitability and tactile performance.
These findings highlight the potential of NBS for behaviorally and clinically relevant interventions in somatosensory disorders.