In vitro and in vivo neuronal electrotaxis: a potential mechanism for restoration?

Electrical brain stimulation used to treat a variety of neurological and psychiatric diseases is entering a new period. The technique is well established and the potential complications are well known and generally manageable. Recent studies demonstrated that electrical fields (EFs) can enhance neuroplasticity-related processes. EFs applied in the physiological range induce migration of different neural cell types from different species in vitro. There are some evidences that also the speed and directedness of cell migration are enhanced by EFs. However, it is still unclear how electrical signals from the extracellular space are translated into intracellular actions resulting in the so-called electrotaxis phenomenon. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the data on responses of cells to electrical stimulation and the relation to functional recovery.