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Rigor and reproducibility in research with transcranial electrical stimulation: An NIMH-sponsored workshop.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bikson, M; Brunoni, AR; Charvet, LE; Clark, VP; Cohen, LG; Deng, Z-D; Dmochowski, J; Edwards, DJ; Frohlich, F; Kappenman, ES; Lim, KO; Loo, C ...
Published in: Brain Stimul
2018

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric disorders are a leading source of disability and require novel treatments that target mechanisms of disease. As such disorders are thought to result from aberrant neuronal circuit activity, neuromodulation approaches are of increasing interest given their potential for manipulating circuits directly. Low intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) with direct currents (transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS) or alternating currents (transcranial alternating current stimulation, tACS) represent novel, safe, well-tolerated, and relatively inexpensive putative treatment modalities. OBJECTIVE: This report seeks to promote the science, technology and effective clinical applications of these modalities, identify research challenges, and suggest approaches for addressing these needs in order to achieve rigorous, reproducible findings that can advance clinical treatment. METHODS: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) convened a workshop in September 2016 that brought together experts in basic and human neuroscience, electrical stimulation biophysics and devices, and clinical trial methods to examine the physiological mechanisms underlying tDCS/tACS, technologies and technical strategies for optimizing stimulation protocols, and the state of the science with respect to therapeutic applications and trial designs. RESULTS: Advances in understanding mechanisms, methodological and technological improvements (e.g., electronics, computational models to facilitate proper dosing), and improved clinical trial designs are poised to advance rigorous, reproducible therapeutic applications of these techniques. A number of challenges were identified and meeting participants made recommendations made to address them. CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations align with requirements in NIMH funding opportunity announcements to, among other needs, define dosimetry, demonstrate dose/response relationships, implement rigorous blinded trial designs, employ computational modeling, and demonstrate target engagement when testing stimulation-based interventions for the treatment of mental disorders.

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Published In

Brain Stimul

DOI

EISSN

1876-4754

Publication Date

2018

Volume

11

Issue

3

Start / End Page

465 / 480

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
  • Research Design
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.)
  • Mental Disorders
  • Humans
  • Education
  • 42 Health sciences
 

Citation

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Bikson, M., Brunoni, A. R., Charvet, L. E., Clark, V. P., Cohen, L. G., Deng, Z.-D., … Lisanby, S. H. (2018). Rigor and reproducibility in research with transcranial electrical stimulation: An NIMH-sponsored workshop. Brain Stimul, 11(3), 465–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2017.12.008
Bikson, Marom, Andre R. Brunoni, Leigh E. Charvet, Vincent P. Clark, Leonardo G. Cohen, Zhi-De Deng, Jacek Dmochowski, et al. “Rigor and reproducibility in research with transcranial electrical stimulation: An NIMH-sponsored workshop.Brain Stimul 11, no. 3 (2018): 465–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2017.12.008.
Bikson M, Brunoni AR, Charvet LE, Clark VP, Cohen LG, Deng Z-D, et al. Rigor and reproducibility in research with transcranial electrical stimulation: An NIMH-sponsored workshop. Brain Stimul. 2018;11(3):465–80.
Bikson, Marom, et al. “Rigor and reproducibility in research with transcranial electrical stimulation: An NIMH-sponsored workshop.Brain Stimul, vol. 11, no. 3, 2018, pp. 465–80. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.brs.2017.12.008.
Bikson M, Brunoni AR, Charvet LE, Clark VP, Cohen LG, Deng Z-D, Dmochowski J, Edwards DJ, Frohlich F, Kappenman ES, Lim KO, Loo C, Mantovani A, McMullen DP, Parra LC, Pearson M, Richardson JD, Rumsey JM, Sehatpour P, Sommers D, Unal G, Wassermann EM, Woods AJ, Lisanby SH. Rigor and reproducibility in research with transcranial electrical stimulation: An NIMH-sponsored workshop. Brain Stimul. 2018;11(3):465–480.
Journal cover image

Published In

Brain Stimul

DOI

EISSN

1876-4754

Publication Date

2018

Volume

11

Issue

3

Start / End Page

465 / 480

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
  • Research Design
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.)
  • Mental Disorders
  • Humans
  • Education
  • 42 Health sciences