Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation via Temporally Interfering Electric Fields

[Champ]

http://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(17)30584-6

Interesting research.

Highlights

• Noninvasive TI stimulation electrically stimulates neurons at depth selectively
• Neurons are stimulated by interference between multiple electric fields
• Neurons in mouse hippocampus can be stimulated without affecting the overlying cortex

Summary
We report a noninvasive strategy for electrically stimulating neurons at depth. By delivering to the brain multiple electric fields at frequencies too high to recruit neural firing, but which differ by a frequency within the dynamic range of neural firing, we can electrically stimulate neurons throughout a region where interference between the multiple fields results in a prominent electric field envelope modulated at the difference frequency. We validated this temporal interference (TI) concept via modeling and physics experiments, and verified that neurons in the living mouse brain could follow the electric field envelope. We demonstrate the utility of TI stimulation by stimulating neurons in the hippocampus of living mice without recruiting neurons of the overlying cortex. Finally, we show that by altering the currents delivered to a set of immobile electrodes, we can steerably evoke different motor patterns in living mice.

 

[BraveNewWorld]

Deep Brain Stimulation always scared the crap out of me because they cut open your skull and put something on your brain. Even if it proved able to cure tinnitus, i would probably be hesitant to try it. I remember Professor Rauschecker's TEDx Talk where he said he thought DBS could cure tinnitus

If DBS can be non-invasive then i would be 100% willing to try it.

 

[Rasmus]

I aslo thing this can cure it, i have heard it can cure people with VERY bad OCD, but lets wait 3-7 years there is most likely other ways to cure T or they will be very close

 

[NatureHiker]

I think doctors and researchers will be more inclined to test and utilize DBS as a treatment method for Tinnitus and other conditions if it can become a non-invasive procedure.

With surgery and implants there's just so much room for complications and problems. Not to already state that surgery is a long and complicated process.

 

[Mic]

There are all ready evidence based locations in the brain that are been identified by neuroscientists. One of the most interesting of them (stimulation of area-LC on the caudate nucleus) is discovered way back in 2010:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23082889

... and in California they are all ready conducting experimental trials with invasive DBS which will last till 2019:

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01988688

... but as @BraveNewWorld expressed very clearly the willingness-to-accept an invasive DBS cure by patients is very low due to the fact many of us don't want chopsticks in our brain.

With respect to this the same people who are trailing the method I described above have researched the willingnes to undertake gamma-knife surgery (non-invasive but destructive) under firefighters in San Francisco:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24662638

So... if this Temporally Interfering Electric Fields method is viable as a non-invasive DBS method it could open up many new opportunities.

These are exciting times folks...

 

[Candy]

Doesn't tell us how bad their tinnitus was, 30% improvement would be enough for me to go under the knife if it was guaranteed to improve T...

Thanks for posting.

 

[Pleasure_Paulie]

http://news.mit.edu/2017/noninvasive-method-deep-brain-stimulation-0601

 

[sharonr]

It's nice to read the posts and hear some good news.
Thanks for finding this research.

 

[Marlino]

This is an very interesting approach. Maybe is useful to try around a little. Like rTMS.
It's a lottery ticket, but won't bring you the million.