Neuromodulation for Brain Disorders: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The field of neuromodulation encompasses a wide spectrum of interventional technologies that modify pathological activity within the nervous system to achieve a therapeutic effect. Therapies including deep brain stimulation (DBS), intracranial cortical stimulation (ICS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have all shown promising results across a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. While the mechanisms of therapeutic action are invariably different amongst these approaches, there are several fundamental neuroengineering challenges that are commonly applicable to improving neuromodulation efficacy. This article reviews the state-of-the-art of neuromodulation for brain disorders and discusses the challenges and opportunities available for clinicians and researchers interested in advancing neuromodulation therapies.

The Body Acoustic: Ultrasonic Neuromodulation for Translational Medicine

“…NM can be applied in order to treat diseases with symptoms or causes linked to dysfunctional neural activity, such as chronic pain, depression, or epilepsy [Johnson et al, 2013]. For example, interrupting a seizure with electrical stimulation is an example of NM, as the therapeutic introduction of an exogenous electric current transcranially inhibits the pathological overexcit-ability of the target neurons.…”

“…This technique provides an alternative to pharmacological interventions, the systemic introduction of which can cause off-target side effects; however, the invasive nature of the implantation of electrodes to deliver the electric stimulus limits applications and also patient compliance [Thompson et al, 2014]. Other common modalities of NM include magnetic and more recently photonic stimulation, although US NM will be the focus of this review [Tufail et al, 2011;Johnson et al, 2013]. For more information regarding the alternative methodologies of NM, readers are encouraged to peruse the reviews by Johnson et al [2013] and Fox et al [2014].…”

“…Other common modalities of NM include magnetic and more recently photonic stimulation, although US NM will be the focus of this review [Tufail et al, 2011;Johnson et al, 2013]. For more information regarding the alternative methodologies of NM, readers are encouraged to peruse the reviews by Johnson et al [2013] and Fox et al [2014].…”

Transcranial direct current stimulation enhances recovery from motor deficits following hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal rats

“…Over the last decade there has been a resurgence of interest in studying the potential therapeutic effects of non-invasive brain stimulation [3][4][5] and its potential benefits of cognitive and memory enhancement [6,7], and neurological disease [8,9] including schizophrenia [6] Parkinson disease [10], and stroke [11,12]. Noninvasive brain stimulation includes a number of technologies including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), among others.…”

High-Resolution Laser Doppler Measurements of Microcirculation in the Deep Brain Structures: A Method for Potential Vessel Tracking

“…The clinical indications and use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) are constantly increasing, and thus there is a need for safe and efficient surgical implantation procedures and further understanding of the mechanism of action [1,2,3]. Improved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), often tailored to specific DBS targets, has increased the possibilities to do direct brain targeting in the surgical planning phase [4].…”