Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation modulates the fMRI signal in the cerebellar nuclei in a simple motor task

Michael Küper; Jahan Saeed Mallick; Thomas Ernst; Oliver Kraff; Markus Thürling; Maria Roxana Stefanescu; Sophia Göricke; Michael A Nitsche; Dagmar Timmann

doi:10.1016/j.brs.2019.04.002

Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation modulates the fMRI signal in the cerebellar nuclei in a simple motor task

Brain Stimul. 2019 Sep-Oct;12(5):1169-1176. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.04.002. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Authors

Michael Küper¹, Jahan Saeed Mallick², Thomas Ernst², Oliver Kraff³, Markus Thürling², Maria Roxana Stefanescu², Sophia Göricke⁴, Michael A Nitsche⁵, Dagmar Timmann²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Michael.Kueper@uni-due.de.
² Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany.
³ Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany; Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Kokereiallee 7, Building C84 UNESCO World Heritage, Zeche Zollverein, 45141, Essen, Germany.
⁴ Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany.
⁵ Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Ardeystr.67, 44139, Dortmund, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bürkle de la Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany.

PMID: 30987860
DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.04.002

Abstract

Background: In a seminal paper, Galea et al. (Modulation of cerebellar excitability by polarity-specific noninvasive direct current stimulation. 2009. J Neurosci 29, 9115-9122) showed that cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) alters cerebellar-M1 connectivity. This effect has been explained by ctDCS-related changes of excitability of the cerebellar cortex with consecutive modulation of its main output, the dentate-thalamo-cortical pathway.

Objectives: The aim of this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was to provide evidence that cathodal ctDCS decreases the activity of the cerebellar cortex, resulting in increased activity of the cerebellar nuclei, whereas anodal ctDCS has the opposite effect.

Methods: A total of 48 participants (female/male: 23/25, age: 23.8 ± 4.1yrs., mean ± standard deviation) performed a finger tapping task with the right hand in a 3T MRI scanner. Functional MR images were acquired prior, during and after tDCS of the right cerebellum. Participants were assigned randomly to anodal, cathodal or sham ctDCS.

Results: No significant difference of cerebellar cortical activation was found after comparing the three modes of stimulation. On the level of the dentate nuclei, however, a significant increase of activation was detected during and after cathodal stimulation. Furthermore, dentate nuclei activation was suppressed on a trend level following anodal stimulation.

Conclusions: The present findings support the hypothesis that cathodal ctDCS leads to a disinhibition of the dentate nucleus, whereas anodal ctDCS may have the opposite effect.

Keywords: Cerebellum; Dentate nucleus; Finger tapping; fMRI; tDCS.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cerebellar Cortex / diagnostic imaging
Cerebellar Cortex / physiology
Cerebellar Nuclei / diagnostic imaging
Cerebellar Nuclei / physiology
Cerebellum / diagnostic imaging*
Cerebellum / physiology*
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Male
Motor Skills / physiology*
Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / methods*
Young Adult