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Low-frequency electrical stimulation reduces cortical excitability in the human brain
Farrokh Manzouri1, Christian Meisel2, Lukas Kunz3
1Epilepsy Center, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; BrainLinks-BrainTools, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Neuroimage. Clinical
|August 10, 2021
Summary
Low-frequency electrical stimulation reduces brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epilepsy Research
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Approximately 30% of epilepsy patients exhibit pharmacotherapy resistance, necessitating novel treatment strategies.
- Cortical electrical stimulation is a neuromodulation technique explored for seizure reduction, but its mechanisms require elucidation.
- Cortical excitability is crucial for epileptic seizure initiation and propagation, making its modulation a key therapeutic target.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of low-frequency (1 Hz) intracranial electrical stimulation on cortical phase synchronization.
- To assess how cortical phase synchronization changes before, during, and after 1 Hz stimulation.
- To determine the impact of stimulation on cortical excitability, a key factor in epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Twelve epilepsy patients undergoing intracranial brain stimulation received low-frequency (1 Hz) stimulation.
- Cortical phase synchronization levels were analyzed across multiple frequency bands (1-45 Hz, 55-95 Hz, 105-195 Hz, and classic bands like alpha, beta, gamma).
- Electrode placement in neocortex and bilateral hemispheres allowed assessment of stimulation effects' anatomical extent.
Main Results:
- Low-frequency stimulation significantly reduced phase synchronization in the 55-95 Hz and 105-195 Hz bands post-stimulation, persisting for at least 30 minutes.
- Similar reductions were observed in alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands.
- Reductions in phase synchronization were more pronounced in the stimulated hemisphere, particularly in the 1-45 Hz and 55-95 Hz ranges.
Conclusions:
- Low-frequency electrical stimulation effectively reduces cortical phase synchronization and, consequently, cortical excitability in the human brain.
- These findings suggest that targeting the epileptic focus with low-frequency stimulation may help prevent seizures.
- This study provides mechanistic insights into neuromodulation for drug-resistant epilepsy.
