Resting-state networks link invasive and noninvasive brain stimulation across diverse psychiatric and neurological diseases

Abstract

Significance Brain stimulation is a powerful treatment for an increasing number of psychiatric and neurological diseases, but it is unclear why certain stimulation sites work or where in the brain is the best place to stimulate to treat a given patient or disease. We found that although different types of brain stimulation are applied in different locations, targets used to treat the same disease most often are nodes in the same brain network. These results suggest that brain networks might be used to understand why brain stimulation works and to improve therapy by identifying the best places to stimulate the brain.

Imaging human brain networks to improve the clinical efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation

“…Several factors have been shown to influence the reliability and effectiveness of NIBS (Ridding and Ziemann, 2010), including genetic factors (Cheeran et al, 2008, Antal et al, 2010, hormone and drug interactions (Sale et al, 2008), age (Rogasch et al, 2009;Todd et al, 2010;Bashir et al, 2014) and levels of physical activity ). Other important factors that appear critical in determining the brain's response to NIBS, and which will be discussed in detail in this review, are the site of stimulation (Fox et al, 2014) and the activity of the underlying networks during stimulation (Nitsche et al, 2003;Fregni et al, 2005;Hummel et al, 2005;Antal et al, 2007;Kujirai et al, 2006;Andrews et al, 2011).…”

“…For any particular stimulation approach, identifying where to stimulate (e.g., hub vs. non-hub regions of cortex) is likely to be critical (Fox et al, 2014). Given the specific nature of the network disturbance in various brain disorders, one form of NIBS may be more efficacious than others.…”

Modeling transcranial magnetic stimulation from the induced electric fields to the membrane potentials along tractography-based white matter fiber tracts

“…This induces an electric field in the brain that can excite or suppress temporarily the activity of certain brain regions by altering the membrane potentials of the neurons. In recent years, this safe and well tolerated brain stimulation technique has established itself as a promising diagnostic tool and alternative treatment for a broad range of neurological and psychiatric disorders (Ilmoniemi et al 1999, Fox et al 2014. Since TMS has the ability to modify the brain state, it is also a powerful tool to explore specific brain functions.…”

“…Our approach is encouraged by the findings of Fox et al (2012Fox et al ( , 2013Fox et al ( , 2014. The authors consider the human brain as a complex interconnected grid as well and state that TMS can affect an area of the brain network that is not necessarily at the targeted site.…”

“…The authors consider the human brain as a complex interconnected grid as well and state that TMS can affect an area of the brain network that is not necessarily at the targeted site. When studying the most effective TMS target brain regions of 14 neurological and psychiatric diseases, Fox et al (2014) found that these different sites are often nodes within the same network. Using a database of fMRI, correlations in spontaneous brain activity, and consequently brain networks of functional connectivity were studied.…”