Transcranial alternating brain stimulation at alpha frequency reduces hemispatial neglect symptoms in stroke patients

• Teresa Schuhmann ^[1] ; Felix Duecker ^[1] ; Marij Middag-van Spanje ^[1] ; Stefano Gallotto ^[1] ; Caroline van Heugten ^[2] ; Anne-Claire Schrijnemaekers ^[3] ; Robert van Oostenbrugge ^[4] ; Alexander T. Sack ^[1]
  1. [1] Maastricht University

     Maastricht University

     Países Bajos

     
  2. [2] Limburg Brain Injury Center, the Netherlands
  3. [3] Adelante Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Brain Injury, Hoensbroek, the Netherlands
  4. [4] Mondriaan Mental Health Centre, Department of Adult Psychiatry, Heerlen, the Netherlands

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• Localización: International journal of clinical and health psychology, ISSN 1697-2600, Vol. 22, Nº. 3, 2022, págs. 131-140
• Idioma: inglés
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  • Background/Objective Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) may help alleviate attention deficits in stroke patients with hemispatial neglect by modulating oscillatory brain activity. We applied high-definition (HD)-tACS at alpha frequency over the contralesional hemisphere to support unilateral oscillatory alpha activity and correct for the pathologically altered attention bias in neglect patients.

    Methods We performed a within-subject, placebo-controlled study in which sixteen stroke patients with hemispatial neglect underwent 10 Hz (alpha) as well as sham (placebo) stimulation targeting the contralesional posterior parietal cortex. Attentional bias was measured with a computerized visual detection paradigm and two standard paper-and-pencil neglect tests.

    Results We revealed a significant shift of attentional resources after alpha-HD-tACS, but not sham tACS, toward the ipsilateral and thus contralesional hemifield leading to a reduction in neglect symptoms, measured with a computerized visual detection paradigm and a widely used standard paper and pencil neglect tests.

    Conclusions We showed a significant alpha-HD-tACS-induced shift of attentional resources toward the contralesional hemifield, thus leading to a reduction in neglect symptoms. Importantly, HD-tACS effects persisted after the stimulation itself had ended. This tACS protocol, based on intrinsic oscillatory processes, may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for neglect.