Ruan Hanyang, Manrique Daniela Rodriguez, Winkelmann Chelsea, Haun Julian, Berberich Götz, Zimmer Claus, Koch Kathrin
School of Medicine and Health, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; School of Medicine and Health, TUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
School of Medicine and Health, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; School of Medicine and Health, TUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
J Affect Disord. 2025 Apr 1;374:116-127. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.01.055. Epub 2025 Jan 11.
This study investigates the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on brain network connectivity in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
In a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled experimental design anodal tDCS (vs. sham) was applied in a total of 43 right-handed patients with OCD, targeting the right pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA). Cathodal reference electrode was put on the left pre-SMA. The current was set as 2 mA, with a stimulation duration of either 30 s (sham) or 1200 s. Concurrent resting-state functional MRI data were collected following tDCS (or sham) stimulation. We employed regression dynamic causal modelling (rDCM) to extract whole brain effective connectivity (EC) matrices subsequently analyzing these matrices through graph theory approaches to examine changes in brain activity across different network scales.
We found that tDCS compared to sham caused significant changes in local effective connectivity. Increased recruitment level was detectable in the sensorimotor network (SMN), indicating enhanced intra-network connectivity after active tDCS. Clustering coefficient and local efficiency were also found to be increased in the same area. No significant changes were detectable with regard to global network connectivity.
Current findings indicate that single-session tDCS can effectively alter local effective connectivities within the SMN in OCD patients. Given the relevance of the SMN and connected regions for the pathophysiology of OCD we believe that tDCS targeting these areas might constitute an effective intervention to normalize altered network connectivity in the disorder of OCD.
We used a single tDCS session, which may not reflect long-term effects.
本研究调查经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）对强迫症（OCD）患者脑网络连通性的影响。
采用随机、双盲、假刺激对照实验设计，对43名右利手强迫症患者施加阳极tDCS（与假刺激相比），靶点为右侧辅助运动前区（pre - SMA）。阴极参考电极置于左侧辅助运动前区。电流设定为2毫安，刺激持续时间为30秒（假刺激）或1200秒。在tDCS（或假刺激）后采集静息态功能磁共振成像数据。我们采用回归动态因果模型（rDCM）提取全脑有效连通性（EC）矩阵，随后通过图论方法分析这些矩阵，以检查不同网络尺度上的脑活动变化。
我们发现，与假刺激相比，tDCS导致局部有效连通性发生显著变化。在感觉运动网络（SMN）中可检测到募集水平增加，表明主动tDCS后网络内连通性增强。在同一区域还发现聚类系数和局部效率也有所增加。在全局网络连通性方面未检测到显著变化。
目前的研究结果表明，单次tDCS可有效改变强迫症患者感觉运动网络内的局部有效连通性。鉴于感觉运动网络及其相连区域与强迫症病理生理学的相关性，我们认为针对这些区域的tDCS可能构成一种有效的干预措施，使强迫症患者改变的网络连通性恢复正常。
我们使用了单次tDCS，可能无法反映长期影响。
