Transcranial Current Stimulations (tCSs) are non-invasive brain stimulation techniques which modulate cortical excitability and spontaneous brain activity by the application of weak electric currents through the scalp, in a safe, economic, and well-tolerated manner. The direction of the cortical effects mainly depend on the polarity and the waveform of the applied current. The aim of the present work is to provide a broad overview of recent studies in which tCS has been applied to modulate sleepiness, sleep, and vigilance, evaluating the efficacy of different stimulation techniques and protocols. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in these stimulations and their ability to affect arousal and sleep dynamics. Furthermore, we critically review works that, by means of stimulating sleep/vigilance patterns, in the sense of enhancing or disrupting them, intended to ameliorate several clinical conditions. The examined literature shows the efficacy of tCSs in modulating sleep and arousal pattern, likely acting on the top-down pathway of sleep regulation. Finally, we discuss the potential application in clinical settings of this neuromodulatory technique as a therapeutic tool for pathological conditions characterized by alterations in sleep and arousal domains and for sleep disorders per se.

The efficacy of transcranial current stimulation techniques to modulate resting-state EEG, to affect vigilance and to promote sleepiness / Annarumma, Ludovica; D'Atri, Aurora; Alfonsi, Valentina; DE GENNARO, Luigi. - In: BRAIN SCIENCES. - ISSN 2076-3425. - ELETTRONICO. - 8:7(2018). [10.3390/brainsci8070137]

The efficacy of transcranial current stimulation techniques to modulate resting-state EEG, to affect vigilance and to promote sleepiness

Ludovica Annarumma
Primo
;
Aurora D’Atri
Secondo
;
Valentina Alfonsi;Luigi De Gennaro
Ultimo
2018

Abstract

Transcranial Current Stimulations (tCSs) are non-invasive brain stimulation techniques which modulate cortical excitability and spontaneous brain activity by the application of weak electric currents through the scalp, in a safe, economic, and well-tolerated manner. The direction of the cortical effects mainly depend on the polarity and the waveform of the applied current. The aim of the present work is to provide a broad overview of recent studies in which tCS has been applied to modulate sleepiness, sleep, and vigilance, evaluating the efficacy of different stimulation techniques and protocols. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in these stimulations and their ability to affect arousal and sleep dynamics. Furthermore, we critically review works that, by means of stimulating sleep/vigilance patterns, in the sense of enhancing or disrupting them, intended to ameliorate several clinical conditions. The examined literature shows the efficacy of tCSs in modulating sleep and arousal pattern, likely acting on the top-down pathway of sleep regulation. Finally, we discuss the potential application in clinical settings of this neuromodulatory technique as a therapeutic tool for pathological conditions characterized by alterations in sleep and arousal domains and for sleep disorders per se.
2018
transcranial current stimulation (tCS); transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS); transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS); oscillatory transcranial direct current stimulation (osc-tDCS); EEG; sleep; sleepiness; vigilance; sleep disorder; clinical application
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
The efficacy of transcranial current stimulation techniques to modulate resting-state EEG, to affect vigilance and to promote sleepiness / Annarumma, Ludovica; D'Atri, Aurora; Alfonsi, Valentina; DE GENNARO, Luigi. - In: BRAIN SCIENCES. - ISSN 2076-3425. - ELETTRONICO. - 8:7(2018). [10.3390/brainsci8070137]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Annarumma_Efficacy_2018.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 258 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
258 kB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1130212
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 17
  • Scopus 37
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 36
social impact