Brain Plasticity Effects of Neuromodulation Against Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue

摘要: Rationale We recently reported on the efficacy of a personalized transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatment in reducing MS fatigue. That result supports notion that interventions targeted at modifying unbalanced interactions within sensorimotor network could represent valid non-pharmacological treatments. Objective The present work aimed assessing whether mentioned intervention also induces changes excitability cortical areas. Method Two separate groups fatigued patients were given 5-day tDCS treatments targeting respectively whole body somatosensory areas (S1wb) and hand (SM1hand). study had double blind, sham-controlled, randomized, cross-over (Real vs. Sham) design. Before after each treatment, we measured fatigue levels (by modified Fatigue Impact Scale, mFIS), motor evoked potentials (MEPs) response to magnetic (TMS) (SEP) median nerve stimulation. took MEPs SEPs as measures primary area (M1) (S1) respectively. Results Real S1wb produced 27% reduction mFIS baseline level, while SM1hand showed no difference between Sham stimulations. M1 increased average 6 % group 40% group. Observed SEP not significant found association decrease. Conclusions was more effective against when electrode focused bilateral area. Changes S1 did correlate with symptoms amelioration. Significance neuromodulation proved induced only minor variations cortex excitability, enough explain beneficial effects