Non-invasive brain stimulation: current and future applications in neurology.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques show promise for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders.
• Challenges exist due to inconsistent protocol designs and study findings, making the field difficult to navigate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review applications of NIBS for enhancing cognitive and motor function in neurological diseases.
• To focus on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial electrical stimulation.
• To identify gaps and shortcomings in current research.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on NIBS applications.
• Focus on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES).
• Synthesis of current knowledge and identification of research limitations.

Main Results:

• NIBS is applied to enhance cognitive and motor function in neurodegenerative diseases and brain lesion disorders (e.g., stroke, TBI).
• Key limitations include small sample sizes, heterogeneous patient populations, and varied stimulation protocols.
• Current research struggles to draw firm conclusions due to these inconsistencies.

Conclusions:

• Advancements in NIBS require evolution towards state-dependent, network-informed, multifocal, and subcortical paradigms.
• Individualized electric field modeling and accelerated NIBS protocols are crucial for improved management of neurological disorders.
• Addressing challenges and gaining mechanistic insights are necessary for adaptive, biomarker-driven protocols to optimize patient treatment.