Wednesday, February 28, 2018

A Potential to Deliver Noninvasive Brain Stimulation


            Scientists at NYU School of Medicine have investigated into a new method known as  transcranial electric stimulation (TES), which they believe offers a more efficient approach to affecting brain circuits, in comparison to current methods. Investigations are currently being done to see how TES could possibly aid in the treatment of neurologic and psychiatric conditions.
            The idea for noninvasive TES was brought about after NYU Langone scientists suggested that the current protocols were not delivering an adequate amount of stimulation to affect neuronal activity within the human brain. Dr. Buzsáki and colleagues have shown this novel stimulation method to be more effective at affecting neuronal circuits, in addition to establishing a minimum current threshold needed to affect brain oscillations in people.
            Although this method is more efficient than current protocol, it does not directly stimulate neurons in the brain, which is the goal for most people working in the field of neurology. Scientists are still looking to find stimulation methods that would deliver enough charges to the brain with a decreased effect on the scalp. There is need for devices that deliver a higher intensity of current, without causing an excess of sensory discomfort.



Posted By: Sunaina Sharma (3)

7 comments:

  1. So is this meant to alleviate symptoms that patients with certain conditions have or meant as an alternative treatment to medication? This also made me wonder about what kind of risks would be associated with this type of treatment.

    -Trung Le (2)

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    1. Brain stimulation, especially if invasive can trigger seizures and potentially brain damage if the voltage is not properly monitored. However, there is potential for brain stimulation to alleviate the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.

      -Sunaina Sharma (3)

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  2. What would this method specifically be used on (I understand that it's supposed to help stimulate brain activity but under what conditions. Is it just surgery?)? What are the current methods being used in comparison to this?
    -Catherine Tsang (3)

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    1. From the article I was under the assumption that brain stimulation would be used to help study parts of the brain that we do not know much about.

      -Sunaina Sharma (3)

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  3. What exactly is TES trying to do in regards to delivering stimulation to affect neuronal activity? I understand that you said its used to treat psychiatric conditions, but how exactly is that done? A specific example would definitely be helpful, are different parts of the brain targeted for different psychiatric conditions?

    -Michael Magnant (1)

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    1. Although the article didn't state how exactly TES could be beneficial in treating certain illnesses or what illnesses for that matter, however it is known that brain stimulation could help alleviate the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.

      -Sunaina Sharma (3)

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  4. Improvement of cutting edge current innovation has permitted specialists to fabricate a more accurate comprehension of how our minds work. These mechanical techniques incorporate the encephalogram. You additionally might be comfortable with terms like a laparoscopic medical procedure. Indigenous plants that spread quickly and overwhelm the opposition will in general be alluded to now by the specialists as just forceful in like manner parlance.

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