abstract
| - Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has induced promising behavioral improvement, both in acute and chronic minimally conscious state (MCS - [ 1 ]) patients [ 2 , 3 ]. We previously defined a tDCS-responder as a patient who demonstrates a new sign of consciousness following stimulation, which was neither present beforehand, nor before or after the sham stimulation [ 2 ]. In a study investigating the metabolic and structural differences between DLPFC-tDCS-responders and non-responders, we have identified that tDCS-responders presented a preservation of brain metabolism and grey matter integrity under the stimulated area, but also in the thalamus and the precuneus, areas involved in consciousness recovery [ 4 ]. Even if these results provided relevant insights into potential biomarkers of responsiveness, the access to such neuroimaging techniques (positron emission tomography - PET - and magnetic resonance imaging - MRI) remains limited. Recently, it has been demonstrated that high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG) network metrics in the alpha band correlates with the level of consciousness [ 5 ]. In addition, a strong correlation between brain metabolism and hdEEG network metrics was reported, making this bedside assessment a robust way to evaluate patients’ brain function.
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has induced promising behavioral improvement, both in acute and chronic minimally conscious state (MCS - [ 1 ]) patients [ 2 , 3 ]. We previously defined a tDCS-responder as a patient who demonstrates a new sign of consciousness following stimulation, which was neither present beforehand, nor before or after the sham stimulation [ 2 ]. In a study investigating the metabolic and structural differences between DLPFC-tDCS-responders and non-responders, we have identified that tDCS-responders presented a preservation of brain metabolism and grey matter integrity under the stimulated area, but also in the thalamus and the precuneus, areas involved in consciousness recovery [ 4 ]. Even if these results provided relevant insights into potential biomarkers of responsiveness, the access to such neuroimaging techniques (positron emission tomography - PET - and magnetic resonance imaging - MRI) remains limited. Recently, it has been demonstrated that high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG) network metrics in the alpha band correlates with the level of consciousness [ 5 ]. In addition, a strong correlation between brain metabolism and hdEEG network metrics was reported, making this bedside assessment a robust way to evaluate patients’ brain function.
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