Transcranial electrical stimulation for neuromodulation of somatosensory processing

Abstract

Transcranial electrical stimulation is a promising neuromodulation technique that has gained interest in the last 20 years after Nitsche and Paulus showed the polarity-specific cortical modulation effect of the weak direct current stimulation over the scalp in 2000. In the following years, new electrical stimulation techniques were introduced, such as alternative current stimulation, random noise stimulation, and pulse current stimulation. According to the literature, transcranial electrical stimulation may be a potential tool to modulate inhibitory circuits to improve the sensory discrimination function and reduce the perception threshold. Furthermore, studies investigating the modulation of multisensory integration support that modulation of sensory networks may increase the perception of body ownership and sensory perception in patients with the prosthesis. Based on the current findings, the electrical modulation of somatosensory processing should be further investigated regarding the type of stimulation, target cortical areas, and optimal parameters of the application.