TY - JOUR

T1 - Combining non-invasive transcranial brain stimulation with neuroimaging and electrophysiology

T2 - Current approaches and future perspectives

AU - Bergmann, Til Ole

AU - Karabanov, Anke

AU - Hartwigsen, Gesa

AU - Thielscher, Axel

AU - Siebner, Hartwig Roman

PY - 2016/10

Y1 - 2016/10

N2 - Non-invasive transcranial brain stimulation (NTBS) techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial current stimulation (TCS) are important tools in human systems and cognitive neuroscience because they are able to reveal the relevance of certain brain structures or neuronal activity patterns for a given brain function. It is nowadays feasible to combine NTBS, either consecutively or concurrently, with a variety of neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques. Here we discuss what kind of information can be gained from combined approaches, which often are technically demanding. We argue that the benefit from this combination is twofold. Firstly, neuroimaging and electrophysiology can inform subsequent NTBS, providing the required information to optimize where, when, and how to stimulate the brain. Information can be achieved both before and during the NTBS experiment, requiring consecutive and concurrent applications, respectively. Secondly, neuroimaging and electrophysiology can provide the readout for neural changes induced by NTBS. Again, using either concurrent or consecutive applications, both “online” NTBS effects immediately following the stimulation and “offline” NTBS effects outlasting plasticity-inducing NTBS protocols can be assessed. Finally, both strategies can be combined to close the loop between measuring and modulating brain activity by means of closed-loop brain state-dependent NTBS. In this paper, we will provide a conceptual framework, emphasizing principal strategies and highlighting promising future directions to exploit the benefits of combining NTBS with neuroimaging or electrophysiology.

AB - Non-invasive transcranial brain stimulation (NTBS) techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial current stimulation (TCS) are important tools in human systems and cognitive neuroscience because they are able to reveal the relevance of certain brain structures or neuronal activity patterns for a given brain function. It is nowadays feasible to combine NTBS, either consecutively or concurrently, with a variety of neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques. Here we discuss what kind of information can be gained from combined approaches, which often are technically demanding. We argue that the benefit from this combination is twofold. Firstly, neuroimaging and electrophysiology can inform subsequent NTBS, providing the required information to optimize where, when, and how to stimulate the brain. Information can be achieved both before and during the NTBS experiment, requiring consecutive and concurrent applications, respectively. Secondly, neuroimaging and electrophysiology can provide the readout for neural changes induced by NTBS. Again, using either concurrent or consecutive applications, both “online” NTBS effects immediately following the stimulation and “offline” NTBS effects outlasting plasticity-inducing NTBS protocols can be assessed. Finally, both strategies can be combined to close the loop between measuring and modulating brain activity by means of closed-loop brain state-dependent NTBS. In this paper, we will provide a conceptual framework, emphasizing principal strategies and highlighting promising future directions to exploit the benefits of combining NTBS with neuroimaging or electrophysiology.

KW - Closed-loop

KW - Electrophysiology

KW - Neuroimaging

KW - Non-invasive transcranial brain stimulation (NTBS)

KW - Transcranial current stimulation (TCS)

KW - Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

U2 - 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.02.012

DO - 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.02.012

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26883069

AN - SCOPUS:84959209922

VL - 140

SP - 4

EP - 19

JO - NeuroImage

JF - NeuroImage

SN - 1053-8119

ER -