Polarity-sensitive modulation of cortical neurotransmitters by transcranial stimulation.

Best JG
Stephenson MC
O'Shea J
Wylezinska M
Kincses ZT
Morris PG
Matthews PM
Johansen-Berg H
Scientific Abstract

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates cortical excitability and is being used for human studies more frequently. Here we probe the underlying neuronal mechanisms by measuring polarity-specific changes in neurotransmitter concentrations using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). MRS provides evidence that excitatory (anodal) tDCS causes locally reduced GABA while inhibitory (cathodal) stimulation causes reduced glutamatergic neuronal activity with a highly correlated reduction in GABA, presumably due to the close biochemical relationship between the two neurotransmitters.

Citation

2009. J Neurosci, 29(16):5202-6.

DOI
10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4432-08.2009
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