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Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Decreases the Amplitudes of Long-Latency Stretch Reflexes in Cerebellar Ataxia

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Abstract

Recent studies suggest that the neuromodulation of the cerebellum using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) could represent a new therapeutic strategy for the management of cerebellar disorders. Anodal tDCS of the cerebellum increases the excitability of the cerebellar cortex. We tested the effects of anodal tDCS applied over the cerebellum in ataxic patients. We studied (a) stretch reflexes (SR) in upper limb (SLSR: short-latency stretch reflexes; LLSR: long-latency stretch reflexes), (b) a coordination functional task in upper limbs based on mechanical counters (MCT: mechanical counter test), and (c) computerized posturography. tDCS did not change the amplitude of SLSR, but reduced significantly the amplitudes of LLSR. tDCS did not improve the MCT scores and did not modify posture. We suggest that anodal tDCS of the cerebellum reduces the amplitudes of LLSR by increasing the inhibitory effect exerted by the cerebellar cortex upon cerebellar nuclei. The absence of effect upon upper limb coordination and posture suggests that the cerebello-cerebral networks subserving these functions are less responsive to anodal tDCS of the cerebellum. Anodal tDCS of the cerebellum represents a novel experimental tool to investigate the effects of the cerebellar cortex on the modulation of the amplitudes of LLSR.

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Abbreviations

AS20:

Ataxia scale on 20 points

dX:

Medial–lateral displacement

dY:

Anterior–posterior displacement

ECR:

Extensor carpi radialis

EMG:

Electromyography

FCR:

Flexor carpi radialis

LLSR:

Long-latency stretch-responses

MCT:

Mechanical counter test

PEYO:

Eyes open and feet apart

PEYF:

Eyes closed and feet apart

PJYO:

Eyes open and feet together

PJYF:

Eyes closed and feet together

SLSR:

Short-latency stretch responses

t-DCS:

Transcranial direct current stimulation

TTW:

Total travelled way

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Acknowledgments

Mario Manto is supported by the FNRS-Belgium.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité d’Etude du Mouvement (UEM), ULB-Erasme, ULB Neurologie 808 Route de Lennik, 1070, Bruxelles, Belgium

    Giuliana Grimaldi & Mario Manto

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  1. Giuliana Grimaldi
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  2. Mario Manto
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Correspondence to Mario Manto.

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Associate Editor Xiaoxiang Zheng oversaw the review of this article.

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Grimaldi, G., Manto, M. Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Decreases the Amplitudes of Long-Latency Stretch Reflexes in Cerebellar Ataxia. Ann Biomed Eng 41, 2437–2447 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-013-0846-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-013-0846-y

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