Brain perfusion alterations induced by standalone and combined non-invasive brain stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Abstract Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) interventions are promising for the treatment of psychiatry disorders. Notwithstanding, mechanisms action NIBS over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a hub that modulates affective and cognitive processes, have not been completely mapped. We aimed to investigate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) changes DLPFC interconnected subgenual anterior cingulate (sgACC) different protocols using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). Twenty-three healthy subjects were allocated randomly undergo four sessions applied once week: transcranial direct current (tDCS), intermittent theta-burst (iTBS), combined tDCS+iTBS placebo. The radiotracer 99m-Technetium-ethylene-cysteine-dimer (99m-ECD) was injected intravenously during session, SPECT images acquired after session. Results revealed none active changing rCBF on targeted DLPFC, but combination increased right sgACC. TDCS respectively decreased sub-regions under cathode anode, while iTBS did show any significant compared Our findings encourage future clinical trials combining psychiatric population mechanistic studies effects tDCS DLPFC. Research Category Technology Methods Basic Research: 9. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)