Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2025
09:35
Automatic Detection of Highly Organized Theta Oscillations in the Murine EEG
Published on: March 10, 2017
9.3K
Pathological Delta Oscillations in Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder: A Case Report
David Haslacher1, Nikolina Novkovic1, Maria Buthut1
1Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Clinical Neurotechnology Lab, Neuroscience Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
|April 11, 2022
Summary
Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) visual disturbances may stem from pathological delta brain activity. Inhibitory transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) offers a potential treatment, significantly reducing symptoms and abnormal brain activity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) involves recurring visual hallucinations post-hallucinogen use.
- Current understanding of HPPD's physiological mechanisms and treatment strategies is limited.
Observation:
- A patient with HPPD experienced persistent visual distortions after adolescent hallucinogen use.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) revealed increased occipital delta activity, similar to OIRDA.
- Symptoms were refractory to previous pharmacological and psychosocial treatments.
Findings:
- Two sessions of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) reduced visual hallucinations by approximately 60%.
- tDCS also attenuated the observed occipital delta activity.
- These improvements were sustained for over four weeks post-treatment.
Implications:
- Pathological occipital delta activity may be a key factor in HPPD development and persistence.
- Non-invasive brain stimulation, like tDCS, shows promise as a novel therapeutic approach for HPPD.
- Further research into tDCS for HPPD is warranted to explore its efficacy and long-term effects.
