Fertonani Anna, Ferrari Clarissa, Miniussi Carlo
Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
Statistics Service, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
Clin Neurophysiol. 2015 Nov;126(11):2181-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.03.015. Epub 2015 Apr 11.
The goals of this work are to report data regarding a large number of stimulation sessions and to use model analyses to explain the similarities or differences in the sensations induced by different parameters of tES application.
We analysed sensation data relative to 693 different tES sessions. In particular, we studied the effects on sensations induced by different types of current, categories of polarity and frequency, different timing, levels of current density and intensity, different electrode sizes and different electrode locations (areas).
The application of random or fixed alternating current stimulation (i.e., tRNS and tACS) over the scalp induced less sensation compared with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), regardless of the application parameters. Moreover, anodal tDCS induced more annoyance in comparison to other tES. Additionally, larger electrodes induced stronger sensations compared with smaller electrodes, and higher intensities were more strongly perceived. Timing of stimulation, montage and current density did not influence sensations perception. The analyses demonstrated that the induced sensations could be clustered on the basis of the type of somatosensory system activated. Finally and most important no adverse events were reported.
Induced sensations are modulated by electrode size and intensity and mainly pertain to the cutaneous receptor activity of the somatosensory system. Moreover, the procedure currently used to perform placebo stimulation may not be totally effective when compared with anodal tDCS.
The reported observations enrich the literature regarding the safety aspects of tES, confirming that it is a painless and safe technique.
本研究的目的是报告大量刺激疗程的数据，并使用模型分析来解释经颅电刺激（tES）不同参数所诱发感觉的异同。
我们分析了与693次不同tES疗程相关的感觉数据。具体而言，我们研究了不同类型电流、极性和频率类别、不同时间安排、电流密度和强度水平、不同电极尺寸以及不同电极位置（区域）对感觉的影响。
无论应用参数如何，在头皮上施加随机或固定交流电刺激（即经颅随机噪声刺激和经颅交流电刺激）所诱发的感觉比经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）少。此外，与其他tES相比，阳极tDCS诱发的不适感更强。此外，较大电极比较小电极诱发的感觉更强，且强度越高，感知越强烈。刺激时间、电极组合和电流密度不影响感觉感知。分析表明，诱发的感觉可根据所激活的体感系统类型进行聚类。最后且最重要的是，未报告不良事件。
诱发的感觉受电极尺寸和强度调节，主要与体感系统的皮肤感受器活动有关。此外，与阳极tDCS相比，目前用于进行安慰剂刺激的程序可能并非完全有效。
所报告的观察结果丰富了有关tES安全性方面的文献，证实其是一种无痛且安全的技术。
