TY - JOUR

T1 - Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (ctDCS)

T2 - A Novel Approach to Understanding Cerebellar Function in Health and Disease

AU - Grimaldi, Giuliana

AU - Argyropoulos, Georgios P

AU - Bastian, Amy

AU - Cortes, Mar

AU - Davis, Nicholas J

AU - Edwards, Dylan J

AU - Ferrucci, Roberta

AU - Fregni, Felipe

AU - Galea, Joseph M

AU - Hamada, Masahi

AU - Manto, Mario

AU - Miall, R Chris

AU - Morales-Quezada, Leon

AU - Pope, Paul A

AU - Priori, Alberto

AU - Rothwell, John

AU - Tomlinson, S Paul

AU - Celnik, Pablo

N1 - © The Author(s) 2014.

PY - 2016/2

Y1 - 2016/2

N2 - The cerebellum is critical for both motor and cognitive control. Dysfunction of the cerebellum is a component of multiple neurological disorders. In recent years, interventions have been developed that aim to excite or inhibit the activity and function of the human cerebellum. Transcranial direct current stimulation of the cerebellum (ctDCS) promises to be a powerful tool for the modulation of cerebellar excitability. This technique has gained popularity in recent years as it can be used to investigate human cerebellar function, is easily delivered, is well tolerated, and has not shown serious adverse effects. Importantly, the ability of ctDCS to modify behavior makes it an interesting approach with a potential therapeutic role for neurological patients. Through both electrical and non-electrical effects (vascular, metabolic) ctDCS is thought to modify the activity of the cerebellum and alter the output from cerebellar nuclei. Physiological studies have shown a polarity-specific effect on the modulation of cerebellar-motor cortex connectivity, likely via cerebellar-thalamocortical pathways. Modeling studies that have assessed commonly used electrode montages have shown that the ctDCS-generated electric field reaches the human cerebellum with little diffusion to neighboring structures. The posterior and inferior parts of the cerebellum (i.e., lobules VI-VIII) seem particularly susceptible to modulation by ctDCS. Numerous studies have shown to date that ctDCS can modulate motor learning, and affect cognitive and emotional processes. Importantly, this intervention has a good safety profile; similar to when applied over cerebral areas. Thus, investigations have begun exploring ctDCS as a viable intervention for patients with neurological conditions.

AB - The cerebellum is critical for both motor and cognitive control. Dysfunction of the cerebellum is a component of multiple neurological disorders. In recent years, interventions have been developed that aim to excite or inhibit the activity and function of the human cerebellum. Transcranial direct current stimulation of the cerebellum (ctDCS) promises to be a powerful tool for the modulation of cerebellar excitability. This technique has gained popularity in recent years as it can be used to investigate human cerebellar function, is easily delivered, is well tolerated, and has not shown serious adverse effects. Importantly, the ability of ctDCS to modify behavior makes it an interesting approach with a potential therapeutic role for neurological patients. Through both electrical and non-electrical effects (vascular, metabolic) ctDCS is thought to modify the activity of the cerebellum and alter the output from cerebellar nuclei. Physiological studies have shown a polarity-specific effect on the modulation of cerebellar-motor cortex connectivity, likely via cerebellar-thalamocortical pathways. Modeling studies that have assessed commonly used electrode montages have shown that the ctDCS-generated electric field reaches the human cerebellum with little diffusion to neighboring structures. The posterior and inferior parts of the cerebellum (i.e., lobules VI-VIII) seem particularly susceptible to modulation by ctDCS. Numerous studies have shown to date that ctDCS can modulate motor learning, and affect cognitive and emotional processes. Importantly, this intervention has a good safety profile; similar to when applied over cerebral areas. Thus, investigations have begun exploring ctDCS as a viable intervention for patients with neurological conditions.

KW - Animals

KW - Cerebellar Ataxia

KW - Cerebellum

KW - Humans

KW - Motor Cortex

KW - Neuronal Plasticity

KW - Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

KW - Review

U2 - 10.1177/1073858414559409

DO - 10.1177/1073858414559409

M3 - Review article

C2 - 25406224

VL - 22

SP - 83

EP - 97

JO - The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry

JF - The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry

SN - 1073-8584

IS - 1

ER -