Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Explore the Underlying Biochemical and Physiological Mechanism of the Human Brain: A Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Hum Brain Mapp

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Neurology

Date 2021 Feb 26

PMID 33634527

Citations 11

Authors

Chang-Hoon Choi

Elene Iordanishvili

N Jon Shah

Ferdinand Binkofski

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A large body of molecular and neurophysiological evidence connects synaptic plasticity to specific functions and energy metabolism in particular areas of the brain. Furthermore, altered plasticity and energy regulation has been associated with a number of neuropsychiatric disorders. A favourable approach enabling the modulation of neuronal excitability and energy in humans is to stimulate the brain using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and then to observe the effect on neurometabolites using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). In this way, a well-defined modulation of brain energy and excitability can be achieved using a dedicated tDCS protocol to a predetermined brain region. This systematic review was guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis and summarises recent literature studying the effect of tDCS on neurometabolites in the human brain as measured by proton or phosphorus MRS. Limitations and recommendations are discussed for future research. The findings of this review provide clear evidence for the potential of using tDCS and MRS to examine and understand the effect of neurometabolites in the in vivo human brain.

Citing Articles

Editorial: Exploration of the human brain using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy with transcranial direct current stimulation.

Choi C, Jon Shah N, Binkofski F Front Neurosci. 2025; 18:1538414.

PMID: 39741533 PMC: 11685144. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1538414.

A study of long-term GABA and high-energy phosphate alterations in the primary motor cortex using anodal tDCS and H/P MR spectroscopy.

Patel H, Stollberg L, Choi C, Nitsche M, Jon Shah N, Binkofski F Front Hum Neurosci. 2024; 18:1461417.

PMID: 39734666 PMC: 11672121. DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1461417.

Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Progression in Post-Stroke Depression Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Zhang Y, Fang H, Wang R, Hu Z, Qiu M Alpha Psychiatry. 2024; 25(5):626-634.

PMID: 39553496 PMC: 11562223. DOI: 10.5152/alphapsychiatry.2024.241646.

The Physiological Mechanisms of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Enhance Motor Performance: A Narrative Review.

Qi S, Cao L, Wang Q, Sheng Y, Yu J, Liang Z Biology (Basel). 2024; 13(10).

PMID: 39452099 PMC: 11504865. DOI: 10.3390/biology13100790.

Increased cortical inhibition following brief motor memory reactivation supports reconsolidation and overnight offline learning gains.

Eisenstein T, Furman-Haran E, Tal A Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023; 120(52):e2303985120.

PMID: 38113264 PMC: 10756311. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2303985120.

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