Neuromodulation from Theory to Therapy Volume II

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurobiology and Clinical Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 5806

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
2. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Interests: neuromodulation; pain perception modulation; neurophysiology; neuroplasticity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Interests: neuromodulation; pain perception modulation; neurophysiology; neuroplasticity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, GIGA Research Center, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
2. Centre du Cerveau, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
Interests: brain injury; disorders of consciousness; neuromodulation; rehabilitation; neurophysiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues

Recent evidence reveals how the nervous system is involved in almost all physiological activities of the human body, from cardiorespiratory rhythm and inflammation to perception and consciousness. Consequently, the nervous system's role is fundamental to keeping the “health–disease” balance, resilience across life, and overall well-being. Neuromodulation includes a myriad of non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches that aim to modulate nervous system activity to restore maladaptive neuroplasticity associated with multiple conditions, such as chronic pain, neurodegenerative diseases, brain injury, mental health conditions, and inflammatory diseases. The main intervention types include transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), spinal cord stimulation, nerve stimulation, and behavioral therapies such as meditation, mindfulness, mental imagery, and hypnosis. These techniques have shown positive effects on several medical conditions; however, their clinical validation, regulatory approval, and systematic use are still incipient, mainly due to unpowered studies, inappropriate parameter selection, and lack of evidence integration. To accelerate the knowledge translation of neuromodulation, we must build a bridge between theoretical/technological development, clinical trial findings, meta-synthesis methods, and implementation strategies, including cost-effectiveness studies. A coherent and organized integration among these disciplines will foster neuromodulation translation to the clinic and unlock these therapies' real potential.

This Special Issue aims to create a space for “cross-talk” between disciplines about the clinical translation of neuromodulatory techniques, from theoretical and basic neuromodulation models to clinical findings. We welcome original research papers, theoretical and methodology papers, and review papers describing the generation, use, and knowledge translation of neuromodulation, especially those exploring new technologies, precision medicine, transdiagnosis approach, and biomarkers.

Dr. Felipe Fregni
Dr. Kevin Pacheco-Barrios
Dr. Aurore Thibaut
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neuromodulation
  • non-pharmacological interventions
  • neuropsychiatric conditions
  • chronic pain
  • brain injury
  • computational models

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 3890 KiB  
Article
Thoracic Dorsal Root Ganglion Application of Resiniferatoxin Reduces Myocardial Ischemia-Induced Ventricular Arrhythmias
by Tomoki Yamaguchi, Siamak Salavatian, Yuki Kuwabara, Abigail Hellman, Bradley K. Taylor, Kimberly Howard-Quijano and Aman Mahajan
Biomedicines 2023, 11(10), 2720; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11102720 - 7 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1571
Abstract
Background: A myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury activates the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. The activation of TRPV1 DRG neurons triggers the spinal dorsal horn and the sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal intermediolateral column, which results in [...] Read more.
Background: A myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury activates the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. The activation of TRPV1 DRG neurons triggers the spinal dorsal horn and the sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal intermediolateral column, which results in sympathoexcitation. In this study, we hypothesize that the selective epidural administration of resiniferatoxin (RTX) to DRGs may provide cardioprotection against ventricular arrhythmias by inhibiting afferent neurotransmission during IR injury. Methods: Yorkshire pigs (n = 21) were assigned to either the sham, IR, or IR + RTX group. A laminectomy and sternotomy were performed on the anesthetized animals to expose the left T2–T4 spinal dorsal root and the heart for IR intervention, respectively. RTX (50 μg) was administered to the DRGs in the IR + RTX group. The activation recovery interval (ARI) was measured as a surrogate for the action potential duration (APD). Arrhythmia risk was investigated by assessing the dispersion of repolarization (DOR), a marker of arrhythmogenicity, and measuring the arrhythmia score and the number of non-sustained ventricular tachycardias (VTs). TRPV1 and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expressions in DRGs and CGRP expression in the spinal cord were assessed using immunohistochemistry. Results: The RTX mitigated IR-induced ARI shortening (−105 ms ± 13 ms in IR vs. −65 ms ± 11 ms in IR + RTX, p = 0.028) and DOR augmentation (7093 ms2 ± 701 ms2 in IR vs. 3788 ms2 ± 1161 ms2 in IR + RTX, p = 0.020). The arrhythmia score and VT episodes during an IR were decreased by RTX (arrhythmia score: 8.01 ± 1.44 in IR vs. 3.70 ± 0.81 in IR + RTX, p = 0.037. number of VT episodes: 12.00 ± 3.29 in IR vs. 0.57 ± 0.3 in IR + RTX, p = 0.002). The CGRP expression in the DRGs and spinal cord was decreased by RTX (DRGs: 6.8% ± 1.3% in IR vs. 0.6% ± 0.2% in IR + RTX, p < 0.001. Spinal cord: 12.0% ± 2.6% in IR vs. 4.5% ± 0.8% in IR + RTX, p = 0.047). Conclusions: The administration of RTX locally to thoracic DRGs reduces ventricular arrhythmia in a porcine model of IR, likely by inhibiting spinal afferent hyperactivity in the cardio–spinal sympathetic pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation from Theory to Therapy Volume II)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

15 pages, 691 KiB  
Review
A Scoping Review on the Use of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Techniques for Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms
by Mohammad Hossein Khosravi, Mélanie Louras, Géraldine Martens, Jean-François Kaux, Aurore Thibaut and Nicolas Lejeune
Biomedicines 2024, 12(2), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12020450 - 17 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1460
Abstract
Background: In the context of managing persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS), existing treatments like pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and physical rehabilitation show only moderate effectiveness. The emergence of neuromodulation techniques in PPCS management has led to debates regarding optimal stimulation parameters and their overall [...] Read more.
Background: In the context of managing persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS), existing treatments like pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and physical rehabilitation show only moderate effectiveness. The emergence of neuromodulation techniques in PPCS management has led to debates regarding optimal stimulation parameters and their overall efficacy. Methods: this scoping review involved a comprehensive search of PubMed and ScienceDirect databases, focusing on controlled studies examining the therapeutic potential of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques in adults with PPCS. Results: Among the 940 abstracts screened, only five studies, encompassing 103 patients (12 to 29 per study), met the inclusion criteria. These studies assessed the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), applied to specific brain regions (i.e., the left dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex (DLPFC) or left motor cortex (M1)) for addressing cognitive and psychological symptoms, headaches, and general PPCSs. The results indicated improvements in cognitive functions with tDCS. In contrast, reductions in headache intensity and depression scores were observed with rTMS, while no significant findings were noted for general symptoms with rTMS. Conclusion: although these pilot studies suggest promise for rTMS and tDCS in PPCS management, further research with larger-scale investigations and standardized protocols is imperative to enhance treatment outcomes for PPCS patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation from Theory to Therapy Volume II)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 3203 KiB  
Review
Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuromodulation Techniques in Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review
by Andrea Calderone, Davide Cardile, Antonio Gangemi, Rosaria De Luca, Angelo Quartarone, Francesco Corallo and Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
Biomedicines 2024, 12(2), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12020438 - 16 Feb 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2302
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a condition in which an external force, usually a violent blow to the head, causes functional impairment in the brain. Neuromodulation techniques are thought to restore altered function in the brain, resulting in improved function [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a condition in which an external force, usually a violent blow to the head, causes functional impairment in the brain. Neuromodulation techniques are thought to restore altered function in the brain, resulting in improved function and reduced symptoms. Brain stimulation can alter the firing of neurons, boost synaptic strength, alter neurotransmitters and excitotoxicity, and modify the connections in their neural networks. All these are potential effects on brain activity. Accordingly, this is a promising therapy for TBI. These techniques are flexible because they can target different brain areas and vary in frequency and amplitude. This review aims to investigate the recent literature about neuromodulation techniques used in the rehabilitation of TBI patients. Materials and Methods: The identification of studies was made possible by conducting online searches on PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, and Scopus databases. Studies published between 2013 and 2023 were selected. This review has been registered on OSF (JEP3S). Results: We have found that neuromodulation techniques can improve the rehabilitation process for TBI patients in several ways. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can improve cognitive functions such as recall ability, neural substrates, and overall improved performance on neuropsychological tests. Repetitive TMS has the potential to increase neural connections in many TBI patients but not in all patients, such as those with chronic diffuse axonal damage.Conclusions: This review has demonstrated that neuromodulation techniques are promising instruments in the rehabilitation field, including those affected by TBI. The efficacy of neuromodulation can have a significant impact on their lives and improve functional outcomes for TBI patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation from Theory to Therapy Volume II)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop