Frontiers | Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the visual cortex as a preventive treatment of migraine: a proof-of-concept study. Journals Science Medicine Books Science Medicine Images Science Medicine Engineering Society Humanities Blogs Science Medicine Engineering Society Humanities News Science Medicine Engineering Society Humanities Videos Science Medicine Engineering Society Humanities People Science Medicine Engineering Society Humanities Jobs Science Medicine Engineering Society Humanities Events Science Medicine Engineering Society Humanities AboutSubmitRegisterLogin Login with facebook Login with twitter OREmail Password Remember me Forgot Password? Login Event Abstract Back to Event Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the visual cortex as a preventive treatment of migraine: a proof-of-concept study. Tullia Sasso D'Elia1, Alessandro Viganò1, Simona Sava1, Maurie Auvé1, Jean Schoenen1* and Delphine Magis1 1 ULg, Neurology & GIGA Neurosciences, Belgium Introduction Prophylaxis is challenging in migraine because of the low efficiency/tolerability ratio of most drugs (1). Abnormal excitability of the cerebral cortex seems implicated in migraine pathophysiology (2). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can durably modify the activity of a target cortex and thus be a promising treatment (3). We have shown that the cerebral cortex, namely the visual cortex, is hyperreactive in migraineurs between attacks and hypothesized that this may be related more to a decreased preactivation level than to hyperexcitability per se (2). Anodal, rather than cathodal, tDCS might be the stimulation modality of choice in migraine. Aims To explore the effect of anodal tDCS on visual cortex reactivity in healthy volunteers (HV) and migraine patients (EM) and its potentials for migraine prevention. Methods Amplitude and habituation of pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (VEP) were measured between the 1st and the 6th block of 100 averagings before and after tDCS (1mA; 15 mins) of the visual cortex on HV (n=11) and on EM (n=12) without aura interictally. To study therapeutic potential, we applied tDCS (15 min) on the visual cortex twice/week for 8 weeks in 7 EM with at least 4 attacks/month and a pre-treatment 2 months baseline. Results In HV, tDCS significantly increased the habituation slope of the VEP N1P1 component but had no effect on P1N2. In EM, tDCS tended to increase habituation of both N1P1 and P1N2. At the end of tDCS treatment, there was on average a significant reduction in migraine frequency from 9.14 attacks during the baseline to 5.57 during tDCS (-36.65%, p<0.05). Mean attack duration changed from 124 to 97 min after tDCS (-43.25%, p>0.05). Discussion Anodal tDCS on the visual cortex is thus able to increase habituation of VEP that is reduced in migraineurs interictally. Moreover, 2 weekly sessions of anodal tDCS may have a preventive effect in patients. Hence larger sham-controlled trials with anodal tDCS of the visual cortex are worthwhile in migraine. References 1) Silberstein SD, Latsko M, Schoenen J. Preventive Antimigraine Drugs. In Multidisciplinary Management of Migraine. Eds Fernandez-de-las-Penas C, Chaitow L, Schoenen J. Chap 10. pp91-102. Contemporary issues in Physical therapy and Rehabilitation Medicine. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Burlington USA. 2012. 2) Coppola G., Pierelli F., Schoenen J.Is the cerebral cortex hyperexcitable or hyperresponsive in migraine? Cephalalgia 2007, 27: 1427-39. 3) Paulus W.Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES - tDCS; tRNS, tACS) methods. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2011;21(5):602-17. Keywords: Visual Cortex, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), Migraine, preventive therapy, Cortical Plasticity Conference: Belgian Brain Council, Liège, Belgium, 27 Oct - 27 Oct, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Other basic/clinical neurosciences topic Citation: Sasso D'Elia T, Viganò A, Sava S, Auvé M, Schoenen J and Magis D (2012). Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the visual cortex as a preventive treatment of migraine: a proof-of-concept study.. Front. Hum. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: Belgian Brain Council. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.210.00125 Received: 10 Aug 2012; Published Online: 12 Sep 2012. * Correspondence: Prof. Jean Schoenen, ULg, Neurology & GIGA Neurosciences, LIEGE, 4000, Belgium, jschoenen@ulg.ac.be Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract Supplemental Data Export Citation EndNote Reference Manager Simple TEXT file BibTex The Authors in Frontiers Tullia Sasso D'EliaAlessandro ViganòSimona SavaMaurie AuvéJean SchoenenDelphine MagisGoogle Tullia Sasso D'EliaAlessandro ViganòSimona SavaMaurie AuvéJean SchoenenDelphine MagisGoogle Scholar Tullia Sasso D'EliaAlessandro ViganòSimona SavaMaurie AuvéJean SchoenenDelphine MagisPubMed Tullia Sasso D'EliaAlessandro ViganòSimona SavaMaurie AuvéJean SchoenenDelphine MagisRelated Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed People also looked at Theta burst and quadripulse repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) may have therapeutic potentials in migraine prevention: a proof-of-concept study in healthy volunteers and a pilot-trial in migraine patients. Tullia Sasso d'Elia, Alessandro Viganò, Simona Sava, Maurie Auvé, Jean Schoenen and Delphine Magis Abstract Close Back to topHome About Frontiers Contact Frontiers Register with Frontiers Submit Manuscript Submit Abstract Alerts Press Relations Donate Terms and Conditions FAQ © 2007 - 2012 Frontiers Media S.A. All Rights Reserved