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. 2016 Feb 4;(108):53367. doi: 10.3791/53367
NEBS type Advantage Limitation
Common to anodal tDCS and tRNS Safe Cheap Easy to administer Outlasting effect on cortical excitability (up to 90 min) Improvement of motor function and motor skill learning in healthy subjects and patients with motor deficits Functional focality is reached by combination of NEBS with a particular task Structural stimulation focality is limited and defined by electrode size and montage Larger electrodes may stimulate cortical areas adjacent to the M1 of interest
Unilateral M1 stimulation (tDCS) Polarity specificity (direction of excitability change in M1 of interest can be chosen) Receiving electrode (cathode) is an active electrode and may exert a confounding effect on underlying brain area Difficult participant blinding at higher stimulation intensities (current density > 40 µA/cm2, e.g., > 1 mA / 25 cm2)
Bilateral M1 stimulation (tDCS) Polarity specificity (direction of excitability change in M1 of interest can be chosen) Pronounced modulation of interhemispheric connection in addition to excitability increase of the M1 of interest (desired decreasing effect on the opposite M1) Difficult participant blinding at higher stimulation intensities (current density > 40 µA/cm2, e.g., >1 mA / 25 cm2) Higher risk of current shunting due to proximity of the electrodes
Unilateral M1 stimulation (tRNS) Least side effects Improved participant blinding No polarity-specificity Effects on excitability and motor behavior are more robust at high frequency spectrum (100-640 Hz)