NIBS-driven brain plasticity

Abstract

Through plasticity the brain is able to change its function and to rearrange following injury or environmental changes. In recent years, it was shown that non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, especially transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can contribute to understand how these plastic changes occur. Additionally, the literature suggests that TMS and tDCS may be used as interventional strategies to improve neurorehabilitation efforts and arguably recovery of motor function after brain lesions. This review focuses on the use of NIBS in experimental protocols for evaluation and modulation of brain plasticity, the factors contributing to the inter-individual variability of response, proposed mechanisms and difficulties in translating findings from small proof of principle studies through the pipeline to clinical practice.