Cerebellar and spinal tDCS

Abstract

In the last 5-7 years, cerebellar and spinal DC stimulation received growing attention by experimental and clinical neuroscientists. Although the clinical efficacy of cerebellar and spinal tDCS awaits confirmation in large, clinical, randomized controlled studies, there are now several important key points underlying their mechanisms of action that should be discussed. Briefl y, delivering DC currents for few minutes over the cerebellum or spinal cord can induce persistent, polarity-dependent excitability changes persisting several minutes after the current offset. Cerebellar DC stimulation can elicit neurophysiological and behavioral changes both in the motor functions and in cognitive-behavioral domain. Spinal cord DC stimulation elicits neurophysiological and behavioral changes related to spinal cord functions, but, interestingly, also changes in the brain functions that may arise from the activation of tonic afferent systems to the brain. Future studies should endeavor to assess whether experimental data translate into benefits in real life, lengthen behavioral benefits, investigate how changing stimulation variables infl uences tDCS-induced effects, determine possible interactions with other treatments, and improve patients' selection.