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Review
. 2024 Apr;21(3):e00330.
doi: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00330. Epub 2024 Feb 9.

Neuromodulation techniques - From non-invasive brain stimulation to deep brain stimulation

Benjamin Davidson  1 , Amitabh Bhattacharya  2 , Can Sarica  3 , Ghazaleh Darmani  2 , Nasem Raies  2 , Robert Chen  4 , Andres M Lozano  5
Affiliations
Review

Neuromodulation techniques - From non-invasive brain stimulation to deep brain stimulation

Benjamin Davidson et al. Neurotherapeutics. 2024 Apr.

Abstract

Over the past 30 years, the field of neuromodulation has witnessed remarkable advancements. These developments encompass a spectrum of techniques, both non-invasive and invasive, that possess the ability to both probe and influence the central nervous system. In many cases neuromodulation therapies have been adopted into standard care treatments. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) are the most common non-invasive methods in use today. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), spinal cord stimulation (SCS), and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), are leading surgical methods for neuromodulation. Ongoing active clinical trials using are uncovering novel applications and paradigms for these interventions.

Keywords: Deep brain stimulation; Spinal cord stimulation; Transcranial alternating current stimulation; Transcranial direct current stimulation; Transcranial magnetic stimulation; Vagus nerve stimulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicts of interest Andres Lozano is the co-founder of Functional Neuromodulation (a DBS-related company) and is a consultant for Boston Scientific, Medtronic and Abbott (companies that produce DBS hardware). None of the other authors have conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic representation of transcranial magnetic stimulation demonstrating the magnetic field generated with a magnetic coil placed over the hand area of the primary motor cortex. This, in turn, induces electrical current to activate cortical circuits (lightning bolts indicating the electromagnetic pulses) leading to activation of corticospinal neurons and subsequently and alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord that innervate the muscle of interest (first dorsal interosseous muscle). This leads to motor evoked potential recorded with surface electromyography (Adapted with permission from Bhattacharya et al., 2022 [5]).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Typical Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) setup (Adapted with permission from Krauss et al., 2021 [140]).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Table of investigational indications/studies in Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) (Adapted with permission from Harmsen et al., 2021 [144]).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Typical vagus nerve stimulation implantable system. (Adapted with permission from Wheless et al., 2018 [185]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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