Understanding the mechanism of action of non-invasive brain stimulation

了解非侵入性脑刺激的作用机制

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-05079
• 负责人: Theoret, Hugo
• 金额: $ 2.26万
• 依托单位: Université de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=684127
• 关键词: Understanding; mechanism; action; non; invasive

The last few years have seen increased interest in non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to probe human cognition. NIBS is a group of techniques that applies electrical or magnetic fields to the human brain to alter cortical function. The techniques are painless, non-invasive and safe and are increasingly being used in cognitive neuroscience to better understand how the brain works. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding NIBS and the important insights is has provided in our understanding of how the brain performs cognitive tasks, the actual mechanism by which it modifies brain function remains partly unknown. The goal of the present proposal is to 1) use a variety of brain imaging techniques to determine how NIBS affects neurotransmitter function; and 2) determine if some individuals have specific characteristics that makes them more susceptible to the effects of NIBS. This research is important as NIBS is used not only to study human cognition, but also as a therapeutic tool for psychiatric and neurological conditions such as depression. It is anticipated that this research program will help better identify NIBS « responders » and further our understanding of the cellular and neurochemical effects of brain stimulation protocols. This program could have far reaching benefits for research as it will allow the development of tools that are better-suited for the study of cognition and treatment of patients.

在过去的几年里，人们对非侵入性脑刺激（NIBS）来探测人类认知的兴趣越来越大。NIBS是一组将电场或磁场施加到人脑以改变皮质功能的技术。这些技术无痛、无创、安全，越来越多地用于认知神经科学，以更好地了解大脑的工作原理。尽管NIBS引起了人们的热情，并且为我们了解大脑如何执行认知任务提供了重要的见解，但它改变大脑功能的实际机制仍然部分未知。本提案的目标是：1）使用各种脑成像技术来确定NIBS如何影响神经递质功能; 2）确定某些个体是否具有使他们更容易受到NIBS影响的特定特征。这项研究很重要，因为NIBS不仅用于研究人类认知，而且还作为精神和神经疾病（如抑郁症）的治疗工具。预计这项研究计划将有助于更好地识别NIBS“反应者”，并进一步了解脑刺激方案的细胞和神经化学作用。该计划可能对研究产生深远的影响，因为它将允许开发更适合患者认知和治疗研究的工具。