Interfering with brain function Flashcards
what is TMS
transcranial magnetic stimulation
what is a control condition for TMS experiments
Usually the same person does the same task at a different time Often called ‘sham’ condition where a fake pulse is emitted or a different brain region is affected (that ideally is not involved in the studied process)
what is a virtual lesion
brain regions can become temporarily impaired or disconnected, allowing us to study their causal involvement in certain brain functions in behaviour
what are the benefits of TMS on brain research
● Much better localization than experiments with brain lesion patients - target of one specific area
● Can also be used in combination with EEG or fMRI
what are the benefits of TMS providing temporary brain impairement
○ Saving a lot of lives of test animals
○ We can study the effect of brain function disruption in the same person - much less variability between a control group and experimental groups
what are the benefits of TMS in medical research and application
many therapeutic benefits
○ Depression
○ Addiction
○ Stroke rehabilitation
○ Parkinson’s disease
○ Chronic pain
what is tDCS
Transcranial direct stimulation
explain tDCS
● non-invasive, painless brain stimulation treatment that uses direct electrical currents to stimulate specific parts of the brain.
● A constant, low intensity current is passed through two electrodes placed over the head which modulates neuronal activity
explain two stimulation of tDCS
anodal and cathodal stimulation
what is anodal stimulation
excites neuronal activity
what is cathodal stimulation
inhibits or reduces neuronal activity
advantages of tDCS
● cheap, non-invasive, painless, safe.
● easy to administer and the equipment is portable.
● Minimal side effects with proper application (most common side effect of tDCS is a slight itching or tingling on the scalp).
● Studies suggest tDCS may be a valuable tool for the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury and stroke, and for relieving symptoms related to: language and movement disorders, and impaired cognition.
● Research has also demonstrated cognitive improvement
issue with tDCS
- Already overmarketed as a brain enhancement technique and long term consequences are unclear
what is the difference between TMS an tDCS
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a less expensive alternative which uses electrical stimulation rather than a magnetic coil to activate astrocytes and increase neuronal excitability and connectivity
how do painkillers work
- First, it depresses the central nervous system, making it more difficult for pain signals to reach the brain.
- Second, it attaches to opiate receptors to block pain signals coming from the body.
