Combined effects of theta-burst stimulation with transcranial direct current stimulation of the prefrontal cortex: study protocol of a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial using 99mTc-ECD SPECT

Autor(es)

Laís B. Razza ^[1] ; Carlos A. Buchpiguel ^[2] ; Stefanie De Smet ; Izio Klein ^[4] ; Chris Baeken ; Ricardo Galhardoni ; Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt ; André R. Brunoni

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

^[2] USP. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Medicina Interna - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy; v. 43, n. 4, p. 293-301, 2021-12-17.

Resumo

Abstract Introduction Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) as monotherapy has been increasingly used to enhance the activity of brain networks. However, it is unclear whether a combination of distinct NIBS approaches could enhance prefrontal cortical (PFC) activity. Objective We propose to investigate the combined and standalone effects of two NIBS modalities on the PFC through a working memory task, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and salivary cortisol. We hypothesize that the combined protocol will provoke greater changes in the collected measures compared to the remining protocols. Methods A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, full-factorial design will be conducted. The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) will be investigated over four different sessions (sham tDCS + sham iTBS, anodal tDCS + sham iTBS, anodal tDCS + active iTBS and sham tDCS + active iTBS) in 30 healthy adult volunteers. A 99mTc-ethylene cysteine dimer (99mTC-ECD) will be administered during the NIBS session and neuroimaging will be acquired within one hour. Salivary cortisol will be collected before and after each session and an n-back working memory task will be applied after the end of each NIBS session. The outcomes will be cerebral perfusion alterations (99mTC-ECD SPECT), accuracy and reaction time in the n-back task, and changes in salivary cortisol level. Conclusion The results from this trial can guide future therapeutic protocols for NIBS treatments stimulating the PFC by demonstrating that the combination of NIBS techniques is feasible, tolerable, and can lead to greater enhancement of PFC activity. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 18/10861-7 - Avaliação multimodal dos efeitos da estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua e estimulação theta-burst no funcionamento do córtex pré-frontal: um estudo Fase-I bilateral, placebo-controlado, fatorial
• Beneficiário: Andre Russowsky Brunoni
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 19/07256-7 - Alterações na perfusão cerebral induzidas por estimulação transcraniana do córtex pré-frontal: um estudo randomizado, placebo-controlado utilizando 99mTc SPECT
• Beneficiário: Lais Boralli Razza
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado Direto