Epilepsy

Abstract

Treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy has seen major advancements in the recent years with the availability of several neurostimulation techniques, among which noninvasive tDCS has emerged as a viable option. Cathodal tDCS has the capacity to induce reductions in cortical excitability in humans resembling classical forms of long-term depression. The tDCS antiepileptic potential has been tested in three controlled clinical trials thus far, outcomes of which are mixed with respect to seizure suppression. In general, more profound suppression of epileptiform EEG activity, rather than suppression of clinical seizures has been observed after cathodal tDCS. As a result, preclinical in vivo and in vitro tDCS studies aimed at obtaining mechanic insights into tDCS effects are on the rise as means to improve clinical tDCS protocols for focal and patient-specific stimulation, and also as studies that will identify tDCS-pharmacotherapy combination therapies.