Giuseppe Cosentino1, Enrico Alfonsi2, Filippo Brighina1, Mauro Fresia3, Brigida Fierro1, Giorgio Sandrini4, Antonio Schindler5, Francesca Valentino1, Danilo Fontana3, Alberto Priori6. 1. Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), University of Palermo, Italy. 2. Department of Neurophysiopathology, C. Mondino National Institute of Neurology Foundation, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: enrico.alfonsi@mondino.it. 3. Department of Neurophysiopathology, C. Mondino National Institute of Neurology Foundation, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy. 4. Department of Neurophysiopathology, C. Mondino National Institute of Neurology Foundation, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy; Department of Brain and Behaviour, University of Pavia, Italy. 5. Department of Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", University of Milan, Italy. 6. Department of Neurological Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique used for modulating cortical excitability in vivo in humans. Here we evaluated the effect of tDCS on behavioral and electrophysiological aspects of physiological sucking and swallowing. METHODS:Twelve healthy subjects underwent threetDCS sessions (anodal, cathodal and sham stimulation) on separate days in a double-blind randomized order. The active electrode was placed over the right swallowing motor cortex. Repeated sucking and swallowing acts were performed at baseline and at 15 and 60 min after each tDCS session and the mean liquid bolus volume ingested at each time point was measured. We also calculated average values of the following electrophysiological parameters: 1) area and 2) duration of the rectified EMG signal from the suprahyoid/submental muscles related to the sucking and swallowing phases; 3) EMG peak amplitude for the sucking and swallowing phases; 4) area and peak amplitude of the laryngeal-pharyngeal mechanogram; 5) oropharyngeal delay. RESULTS: The volume of the ingested bolus significantly increased (by an average of about 30% compared with the baseline value) both at 15 and at 60 min after the end of anodal tDCS. The electrophysiological evaluation after anodal tDCS showed a significant increase in area and duration of the sucking phase-related EMG signal. CONCLUSIONS:Anodal tDCS leads to stronger sucking of a liquid bolus in healthy subjects, likely by increasing recruitment of cortical areas of the swallowing network. This finding might open up interesting perspectives for the treatment of patients suffering from dysphagia due to various pathological conditions.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique used for modulating cortical excitability in vivo in humans. Here we evaluated the effect of tDCS on behavioral and electrophysiological aspects of physiological sucking and swallowing. METHODS: Twelve healthy subjects underwent three tDCS sessions (anodal, cathodal and sham stimulation) on separate days in a double-blind randomized order. The active electrode was placed over the right swallowing motor cortex. Repeated sucking and swallowing acts were performed at baseline and at 15 and 60 min after each tDCS session and the mean liquid bolus volume ingested at each time point was measured. We also calculated average values of the following electrophysiological parameters: 1) area and 2) duration of the rectified EMG signal from the suprahyoid/submental muscles related to the sucking and swallowing phases; 3) EMG peak amplitude for the sucking and swallowing phases; 4) area and peak amplitude of the laryngeal-pharyngeal mechanogram; 5) oropharyngeal delay. RESULTS: The volume of the ingested bolus significantly increased (by an average of about 30% compared with the baseline value) both at 15 and at 60 min after the end of anodal tDCS. The electrophysiological evaluation after anodal tDCS showed a significant increase in area and duration of the sucking phase-related EMG signal. CONCLUSIONS: Anodal tDCS leads to stronger sucking of a liquid bolus in healthy subjects, likely by increasing recruitment of cortical areas of the swallowing network. This finding might open up interesting perspectives for the treatment of patients suffering from dysphagia due to various pathological conditions.
Authors: G Cosentino; R Gargano; G Bonura; S Realmuto; E Tocco; P Ragonese; M Gangitano; E Alfonsi; B Fierro; F Brighina; G Salemi Journal: Neurol Sci Date: 2018-05-13 Impact factor: 3.307