Mechanisms of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for pain in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a recurrent pain condition that can be challenging to treat. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has become a promising non-invasive therapeutic option in alleviating FMS pain, but the mechanisms underlying its effectiveness are not yet fully understood. In this article, we discuss the most current research investigating the analgesic effects of tDCS on FMS and discuss the potential mechanisms. TDCS may exert its analgesic effects by influencing neuronal activity in the brain, altering cortical excitability, changing regional cerebral blood flow, modulating neurotransmission and neuroinflammation, and inducing neuroplasticity. Overall, evidence points to tDCS as a potentially safe and efficient pain relief choice for FMS by multiple underlying mechanisms. This article provides a thorough overview of our ongoing knowledge regarding the mechanisms underlying tDCS and emphasizes the possibility of further studies to improve the clinical utility of tDCS as a pain management tool.

Keywords: brain modulation; chronic pain; fibromyalgia syndrome; mechanisms; tDCS.

FIGURE 1

Flow chart for researches enrolled in this study.

FIGURE 2

Potential Mechanisms of tDCS for pain in Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). The mechanisms include regulation of neural activity; modulation of neuroinflammation; regulation of neurotransmission; regulation of regional cerebral blood flow; modulation of neuroplasticity. FC, function connectivity; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IL, interleukin; GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid; LTP, long-term potentiation; BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; NMDA receptors, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.