Development and implementation of a standardized methodology aiming to optimize the efficacy and reproducibility of findings using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in the context of motor training

感知和认知等大脑功能可以作为振荡神经活动的功能进行调节。近年来出现了非侵入性脑刺激技术，利用能够调节神经元活动的电流来促进或抑制大脑的可塑性，即大脑改变/适应环境的能力。施加的电流可以随时间保持恒定，如经颅直流电刺激（tDCS），也可以在给定频率上交替，这被称为经颅交流电刺激（tACS）。TDCS和tACS被认为是非侵入性调节可塑性的神经机制，当应用于目标大脑区域时，可以促进潜在的大脑功能。tDCS/tACS的技术获取和操作成本非常低，不良事件最少，如果我们正在寻求改善脑功能，这些无痛技术很有吸引力。尽管积累了tDCS和tACS获得的数据，但尚未就这两种技术达成方法论共识。缺乏方法学上的金标准是导致重复性失败的部分原因，目前这种失败破坏了这些技术的临床应用。因此，该计划的总体目标是为建立标准化方法奠定基础，旨在利用NIBS技术优化研究结果的有效性和可重复性。目前的项目分为三个渐进的步骤，以实现优化的非侵入性脑刺激方案，目的是确保可靠的结果和系统的改进领域。目前研究项目的影响有五个方面：(1)a-为使用非侵入性脑刺激技术的研究人员提供标准化的方法，以提高他们自己协议的可靠性；B -与该领域的其他研究人员合作，不断改进所提出的优化过程，开发可重复的研究结果和更有效的脑刺激方案，以造福健康和临床人群；(2)对于资助机构，支持更严格的拨款申请和培训高素质的无创脑刺激技术人员，以促进其科学和经济潜力；(3)临床人群将受益于旨在改善其健康的优化干预方法；(4)为临床医生提供工具，使他们能够在明确的临床背景下，就将非侵入性脑刺激加入其治疗库的针对性做出更明智的、基于证据的决策；(5)对于医疗保健系统，通过提出的优化方法，提高非侵入性脑刺激干预的成本效益。

Brain functions such as perception and cognition can be modulated as a function of oscillating neural activity. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques using electrical currents capable of modulating neuronal activity so as to either facilitate or inhibit brain plasticity, which refers to the ability of the brain to change/adapt to one's environment. The applied currents can either be constant over time, as is the case with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), or they can alternate at a given frequency, which is referred to as transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). TDCS and tACS are believed to non-invasively modulate neural mechanisms of plasticity, which, when applied over a targeted brain region, can promote underlying brain function. Technology acquisition and operation costs of tDCS/tACS are very accessible with minimal adverse events, making these painless techniques appealing if we are seeking to improve brain function. Despite the accumulation of acquired data with tDCS and tACS, a methodological consensus has not yet been reached concerning neither of these techniques. The lack of methodological gold standard is in part responsible for the concerning reproducibility failures which currently undermines the clinical use of these technologies. The overarching objective of this program is therefore to lay the ground for establishing a standardized methodology aiming to optimize the efficacy and reproducibility of findings using NIBS techniques. The present program is organized into three incremental steps toward implementing optimized non-invasive brain stimulation protocols with the aim to ensure reliable results and systematic improvement of the field. The impact of the present research program are fivefold: (1) a- for researchers who are using non-invasive brain stimulation technologies, to provide them with a standardized methodology with which to improve the reliability of their own protocol; b- to work collaboratively with other researchers in the field in order to constantly improve the proposed optimization process and develop reproducible research findings and more efficient brain stimulation protocols for the benefit of healthy and clinical populations; (2) for funding agencies, to support more rigorous grant application and training of highly qualified personnel with non-invasive brain stimulation technologies to foster its scientific & economic potential; (3) for clinical populations which will benefit from optimized intervention approach aiming to improve their health; (4) for clinicians who will be provided with tools to make better informed, evidence-based decisions on the pertinence of adding non-invasive brain stimulation to their therapeutic arsenal in well-defined clinical contexts; and (5) for the healthcare system, to improve, via the proposed optimizaton methodology, cost-efficiency of non-invasive brain stimulation intervention.