P167 Modulation of corticothalamic sleep regulation by transcranial direct current stimulation is an area-specific effect. Issue 3 (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Krone, L.B.; Frase, L.; Selhausen, P.; Zittel, S.; Jahn, F.; Piosczyk, H.; Feige, B.; Nitsche, M.; Riemann, D.; Nissen, C.
• Is Part Of: Clinical neurophysiology. Volume 128:Issue 3(2017:Mar.)
• Page Start: e99
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Electroencephalography -- Periodicals; Electromyography -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.10.288
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-2457

Abstract

Abstract : Question: Corticothalamic feedback loops represent a 'top-down' pathway of sleep regulation accessible for interventions with non-invasive brain stimulation into sleep physiology. Distinct methods of current stimulation to prefrontal regions can be used to increase slow wave activity, boost memory consolidation, elicit self-awareness during dreams, or alter total sleep time. However, it has not been investigated whether these effects are specific for prefrontal targets or arise from a more general cortical stimulation effect. We hypothesized that parietal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) before sleep is inferior to prefrontal stimulation in modulating total sleep time during overnight sleep. Our aim was to examine whether tDCS effects on sleep regulation are area-specific for prefrontal regions. Methods: We applied a standardized tDCS protocol (2 mA, 2 × 9 min. cathodal, 2 × 13 min. anodal) immediately prior to overnight sleep to the parietal cortex of 10 healthy subjects in a randomized crossover design. We compared the results to our initial group, which had undergone the same tDCS protocol to the prefrontal cortex resulting in a significantly reduced total sleep time by 27.6 min after anodal (activating) versus cathodal (deactivating) stimulation ( p < 0.01). Results: In contrast to prefrontal stimulation, parietal tDCS prior to overnight sleep did not yield any significant effects on total sleep time and other polysomnographic measures. Conclusions: These results strongly support the hypothesis that sleep-modifying effects of tDCS depend on specific corticothalamic feedback loops between the prefrontal cortex and thalamus. We interpret these findings as further evidence for the pivotal role of the prefrontal cortex in regulation of arousal states. Together with our previous data this study supports the assumption that non-invasive brain stimulation to prefrontal areas could be a promising non-pharmaceutical therapeutic approach for conditions of impaired or abundant arousal.