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The signals reproduce the individual 'alpha oscillations' – waveforms appearing at 8-12Hz on an electroencephalogram (EEG).
Stimulation of the brain through scalp electrodes is known as trans-brain stimulation, and the University uses two terms:
- tACS – AC Transcranial Stimulation
- tDCS – transcranial direct stimulation
"We conducted a study on 32 people because this type of approach had never been used before," said Dr. Flavio Frohlich, researcher. "Now that we have documented how this type of TAC can reduce the symptoms of depression, we can refine our approach to help many people in a non-invasive way."
According to the uninversity: "Frohlich's approach is different from the more common brain stimulation technique called tDCS, which sends a steady stream of weak electricity through electrodes attached to various parts of the brain. This approach has had mixed results in the treatment of various conditions, including depression.
According to the university, alpha oscillations, which are similar to Frohlich's waveforms, increase when humans close their eyes, dream, meditate or evoke ideas. Previous research has shown that people with depression have hyperactive alpha oscillations in the left frontal cortex.
Frohlich's goal was to synchronize them with the alpha oscillations of the right frontal cortex.
32 people with depression participated in the study. In three groups (double-blind randomized), they received:
- Sham group: brief electrical stimulus to mimic the sensation at the beginning of the tACS
- Control group: tACS 40Hz – out of the range of normal alpha oscillations
- Active group: tACS 10Hz "that targets the natural alpha waves of each individual," according to the university.
Each person underwent 40 minutes of intervention for five consecutive days.
The results showed that participants in the 10Hz TACS group had a decrease in alpha oscillations in the left frontal cortex, which were synchronized with the right frontal cortex.
Two weeks after treatment, 70% of people in the active group reported a reduction of at least 50% in symptoms of depression. "This response rate was significantly higher than that of the other two groups," said the university. "Some participants have experienced such a dramatic decline that the Frohlich team is writing case studies. Participants in the placebo and control groups experienced no reduction in this type of symptoms.
However, at four weeks, the researchers did not find a statistically significant decrease in depressive symptoms in the 10Hz tACS group compared to the control or control group.
"It's important to note that this study is a first of its kind," said Frohlich. "When we started this research with computer simulations and preclinical studies, it was unclear whether we would see an effect in patients a few days after tACS treatment, let alone if it could become a treatment for psychiatric diseases. We did not know what would happen if we treated people for several days in a row or what effect we might see weeks later. Thus, the fact that we have seen such positive results from this study gives me confidence that our approach could help many people with depression. "
The Frohlich laboratory plans two follow-up studies.
caveat
Electronics Weekly does not claim any medical knowledge and has no way of judging the validity of this work.
For those interested, Nature Translational Psychiatry is reported as follows: "Randomized, double-blind pilot clinical trial targeting alpha oscillations with transcranial AC stimulation (tACS) for the treatment of major depressive disorder".
Picture of Brian Strickland.
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