Investigating the Impact of Transcranial Direct Stimulation on Excitatory Purkinje Cell Firing in Essential Tremor: A Computational Model Approach

Poster Session C - Sunday, April 14, 2024, 5:00 – 7:00 pm EDT, Sheraton Hall ABC

Gabriela Chayele¹; ¹William James College, ²Boston University CTCN, ³Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Introduction: This paper investigates the modulation of excitatory Purkinje cell firing using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in a computational model of essential tremor (ET) based on the cortico-cerebello-thalamo-cortical (CCTC) network. Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), including transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and tDCS, is increasingly explored for therapeutic purposes in motor movement and cognition. Methods: The study initially employed a computational model of ET with tACS, aiming to mitigate tremor oscillations. Modifications involved replacing the tACS sinusoidal stimulation with a direct current to simulate tDCS. The model, consisting of various neural components, demonstrated the potential of tDCS to decrease pathological spiking activity associated with essential tremor. Results: Control conditions, representing the model without stimulation and with tACS, were compared to modified conditions simulating tDCS. Results showed that the removal of tACS stimulation produced outcomes similar to the control without stimulation, while tDCS simulation yielded results comparable to the control with tACS. This suggests that tDCS, by delivering direct excitability or inhibition, can effectively modulate neural oscillations in the model. Conclusion: The paper concludes by discussing the distinction between tACS and tDCS in terms of current delivery patterns and highlights the potential of tDCS to offer a direct and effective modulation of neural activity. The findings contribute to understanding how different transcranial electrical stimulation techniques impact neurons at a cellular level, holding promise for novel therapeutic interventions in various brain disorders.

Topic Area: OTHER