Cutting edge experimental therapeutics Flashcards
What are some topics besides psychosis that neuromodulation is currently being studied for?
Besides psychosis, neuromodulation is being studied for conditions such as depression, OCD, and mood problems in people with psychosis.
Name five major neuromodulation techniques discussed in this module.
The five major neuromodulation techniques discussed are:
nial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS)
Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS)
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Which two neuromodulation techniques were primarily focused on in this module, and why?
The primary focus of this module was on
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation **(tDCS) **
because they have the most substantial evidence base.
What are the two ways contemporary neuromodulation techniques are divided based on the targeted brain areas?
The two ways of categorizing neuromodulation techniques are
“top-down” techniques, which target higher and more complex brain regions,
and
“bottom-up” techniques, which involve external nerves outside the brain.
Give examples of top-down neuromodulation techniques.
Top-down neuromodulation techniques include
rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation),
tDCS (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation), and
DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation).
**
Give examples of bottom-up neuromodulation techniques.
Bottom-up neuromodulation techniques include
VNS (Vagal Nerve Stimulation) and
TNS (Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation).
How are neuromodulation techniques categorized as either noninvasive or invasive?
Neuromodulation techniques are categorized
as** noninvasive** when applied externally to the body (e.g., the skull or neck) and
as invasive when they require cutting through the skin and potentially bone (e.g., DBS or Vagal Nerve Stimulation).
TMS
Explain the background physics of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
TMS is based on Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction. A magnetic coil is placed above the skull, and when it turns on and off, it induces electrical currents within the brain, which can activate neurons due to the brain’s electrochemical nature.
How does slow TMS affect neurons, and what is the typical stimulation rate for slow TMS?
Slow TMS, typically applied at less than 1 Hertz (less than once per second), tends to inhibit underlying neurons. When applied for a period and then removed, the neurons underneath are less likely to fire for some time.
How does fast TMS affect neurons, and what is the typical stimulation rate for fast TMS?
Fast TMS, with a stimulation rate greater than 5 Hertz (more than five times a second, typically around 10 Hertz), tends to be stimulatory to underlying neurons. When the TMS coil is removed, the stimulated area is more likely to fire.
What is the size of the area directly underneath the TMS coil?
The area directly underneath the TMS coil is about half a centimeter in diameter, approximately the size of a penny or a cent.
What is the potential problem associated with the small diameter of effective activation in TMS?
The potential problem is that if someone or the coil moves even slightly during TMS application, it can result in hitting different parts of the brain due to the small diameter of effective activation.
What is meant by “superficial penetrants” in the context of TMS?
“Superficial penetrants” refer to the fact that TMS coils primarily affect the top centimeter of the cortex or brain due to various barriers such as the thickness of the skull and hair.
How is TMS coil placement typically done, and what are the drawbacks of manual placement?
TMS coil placement can be done manually, measuring on the skull using anatomical landmarks. The drawback is that manual placement introduces inaccuracies.
What is computer-guided application of TMS, and why is it more accurate than manual placement?
Computer-guided application of TMS involves a computer system that tracks the coil’s position in real space compared to the person’s head and helps size it appropriately. It is more accurate than manual placement.
What happens when the TMS coil turns on and off, and how can it be done in two different ways?
When the TMS coil turns on and off, it causes depolarization in the brain cells underneath. This can be done in two different ways: slowly, at one Hertz or about once per second, and fast, at around 10 Hertz.
Why are longer-term changes important in TMS therapy, and how do they differ between slow and fast TMS?
Longer-term changes are important in TMS therapy because immediate effects would have limited value. Slow TMS tends to produce inhibition after the tool is removed, while fast TMS tends to produce stimulation after removal.
What is the ultimate goal of TMS therapy in terms of brain function changes?
The ultimate goal of TMS therapy is to induce immediate changes in brain function and then take the tool away to induce longer-term changes. This allows the therapy to have lasting therapeutic effects.
Immediate Effects: When TMS is applied, it…
…stimulates specific brain regions or neural pathways. This stimulation can lead to immediate changes in the excitability of neurons in the targeted area. Neurons may become more or less active depending on the type and frequency of TMS applied.
What is TMS?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is abbreviated as TMS. It is a non-invasive neurostimulation technique that uses magnetic fields to induce electrical currents in the brain.
What are the two primary types of TMS?
Two primary types of TMS are Slow TMS (inhibition) and Fast TMS (stimulation).
How does Slow TMS affect brain activity?
Slow TMS inhibits brain activity in the stimulated region, leading to a temporary decrease in neuronal firing.
What is the impact of Fast TMS on brain activity?
Fast TMS stimulates brain activity in the targeted region, causing an increase in neuronal firing.
Name two processes influenced by TMS-induced changes.
TMS-induced changes influence processes like long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD).
How does TMS affect gene expression related to neuronal plasticity?
TMS can modulate gene expression associated with neuronal plasticity, enhancing the brain’s ability to adapt.
What is one challenge in understanding the full effects of TMS?
One challenge is that TMS can have effects on distal brain regions, which are not fully understood due to the complexity of brain connectivity.
True or False: TMS is considered a non-invasive brain stimulation technique.
True. TMS is non-invasive, as it does not require surgery or penetration of the skull.
What are the potential side effects of TMS treatment?
Potential side effects of TMS treatment include mild discomfort, headache, and scalp irritation.
What is the primary target in the brain for rTMS in the treatment of depression?
In the treatment of depression, rTMS is most commonly applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
What principle underlies the use of rTMS in depression treatment?
The principle is that in depression, there is underactivation of certain brain areas, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and limbic regions.
How long does a typical rTMS session last, and what is the pulse pattern used?
A typical rTMS session lasts about half an hour and involves a pulse pattern of 4 seconds of stimulation followed by 26 seconds off, repeated throughout the session.
What level of evidence supports the effectiveness of rTMS in depression treatment, according to the European expert consensus statement in 2014?
According to the European expert consensus statement in 2014, rTMS is graded as level A, indicating a definite antidepressant effect.
Is rTMS recommended as a treatment for depression by NICE?
Yes, NICE recommends rTMS as an effective treatment for depression.
How is rTMS applied to treat auditory verbal hallucinations (voices) in psychosis?
rTMS is typically applied to the temporoparietal junction to target the overactive speech network associated with auditory verbal hallucinations in psychosis.
What is the primary goal of applying slow rTMS to treat auditory verbal hallucinations?
The goal of applying slow rTMS to treat auditory verbal hallucinations is to inhibit the overactive speech network in the brain.
What is the key difference in how tDCS affects the brain compared to rTMS?
tDCS enhances brain plasticity and makes brain regions more susceptible to subsequent inputs, while rTMS directly stimulates or inhibits brain cells.
How is tDCS applied to the scalp, and what is the typical current used?
tDCS involves the application of a small direct current through saline-soaked electrodes on the scalp, with a typical current of one to two milliamps.
pulses
what’s the difference between these two?
TMS
what neuromodulation technique would you use for depression and why?
depression
What is the underactivation model of depression?