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

大脑的功能，如感知和认知，可以作为振荡的神经活动的函数来调节。近年来，出现了使用电流来调节神经元活动以促进或抑制大脑可塑性的非侵入性脑刺激技术，大脑可塑性指的是大脑改变/适应环境的能力。施加的电流可以随着时间的推移保持恒定，就像经颅直流电刺激(TDC)的情况一样，或者它们可以以给定的频率交替，这被称为经颅交流刺激(TACS)。TDCs和Tacs被认为可以非侵入性地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容易获得，不良事件最少，如果我们寻求改善大脑功能，这些无痛技术就很有吸引力。尽管利用tdcs和tacs积累了大量数据，但尚未就这两种技术在方法学上达成共识。缺乏方法学黄金标准是目前破坏这些技术临床应用的令人担忧的重复性失败的部分原因。因此，该计划的总体目标是为建立标准化方法奠定基础，旨在优化使用NIBS技术的研究结果的有效性和重复性。目前的计划被组织成三个增量步骤，以实施优化的非侵入性脑刺激方案，旨在确保可靠的结果和该领域的系统改进。目前的研究计划的影响有五个方面：(1)对于使用非侵入性脑刺激技术的研究人员，为他们提供一种标准化的方法，以提高他们自己方案的可靠性；b-与该领域的其他研究人员合作，以不断改进拟议的优化过程，开发可重复的研究结果和更有效的脑刺激方案，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对具有非侵入性脑刺激技术的高素质人员的培训，以促进其科学和经济潜力；(3)对于将受益于旨在改善其健康的优化干预方法的临床人群；(4)将为临床医生提供工具，以便在明确定义的临床环境下，就将非侵入性脑刺激添加到他们的治疗武器库的相关性做出更好的、基于证据的决策；以及(5)对于医疗系统，通过所建议的优化方法，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.