Vision modulation, plasticity and restoration using non-invasive brain stimulation – An IFCN-sponsored review

Sabel, Bernhard A.; Thut, Gregor; Haueisen, Jens; Henrich‐Noack, Petra; Herrmann, Christoph S.; Hunold, Alexander; Kammer, Thomas; Matteo, Barbara Maria; Sergeeva, Elena G.; Waleszczyk, Wioletta J.; Antal, Andrea

doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2020.01.008

Cited by 59 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 281 publications

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“…Non-invasive visual cortex stimulation studies have reported varying fellow eye effects. Studies using inhibitory stimulation protocols (1 Hz rTMS and continuous theta burst stimulation; cTBS) have reported reduced fellow eye contrast sensitivity [35,36] whereas those using excitatory protocols (anodal tDCS and tRNS) [24,40], including the present study, observed improvements. This pattern of results is consistent with the homeostasis hypothesis which predicts relatively impaired fellow eye function following inhibitory stimulation and does not rule out improved fellow eye function following excitatory stimulation.…”

Section: Trns-induced Improvements In Contrast Sensitivitycontrasting

confidence: 53%

“…A previous study [36] reporting improved amblyopic eye contrast sensitivity following both excitatory and inhibitory visual cortex rTMS proposed a mechanism linked to cortical homeostasis. According to this hypothesis, excitatory stimulation has a more pronounced effect on weakly activated/suppressed neural populations whereas inhibitory stimulation has a greater effect on strongly activated populations.…”

Section: Trns-induced Improvements In Contrast Sensitivitymentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Currently, tES methods are being investigated as a potential neurorehabilitation tool for disorders including stroke [27][28][29][30], chronic pain [31,32] and tinnitus [33,34] and there is growing interest in the use of tES to treat disorders of vision (see [35,36] for recent reviews).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multi-session visual cortex transcranial random noise stimulation in adults with amblyopia

Donkor

Silva

Teske

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Purpose:We tested the hypothesis that five daily sessions of visual cortex transcranial random noise stimulation would improve contrast sensitivity, crowded and uncrowded visual acuity in adults with amblyopia.Methods: Nineteen adults with amblyopia (44.2 ± 14.9yrs, 10 female) were randomly allocated to active or sham tRNS of the visual cortex (active, n = 9; sham, n = 10). tRNS was delivered for 25 minutes across five consecutive days. Monocular contrast sensitivity, uncrowded and crowded visual acuity were measured before, during, 5 minutes and 30 minutes post stimulation on each day. Results:Active tRNS significantly improved contrast sensitivity for both amblyopic and fellow eyes whereas sham stimulation had no effect. An analysis of the day by day effects revealed large within session improvements on day 1 for the active group that waned across subsequent days. No long-lasting changes in baseline contrast sensitivity were observed in the active group.The uncrowded visual acuity measurements followed the same trend, but differences in baseline uncrowded visual acuity between the two groups prevent definitive conclusions. No effect of tRNS was observed for crowded visual acuity. Conclusions:In agreement with previous non-invasive brain stimulation studies using different techniques, tRNS induced short-term contrast sensitivity improvements in adult amblyopic eyes, and the effects may extend to uncrowded visual acuity. However, multiple sessions of tRNS did not lead to enhanced or long-lasting effects. Multi-modal approaches to adult amblyopia treatment that combine non-invasive brain stimulation with other interventions may be required to induce long lasting improvements in visual function.

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Section: Trns-induced Improvements In Contrast Sensitivitycontrasting

confidence: 53%

Section: Trns-induced Improvements In Contrast Sensitivitymentioning

confidence: 90%

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Multi-session visual cortex transcranial random noise stimulation in adults with amblyopia

Donkor

Silva

Teske

et al. 2019

Preprint

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“…The results in this study imply that network functionality poses no limit to future treatment options. The central role of the LIG suggests that future therapies, such as brain stimulation, could focus on this brain area, as its modulation may benefit glaucoma patients (Sabel et al, 2020). Moreover, the notion that orientation and mobility performance are also part of this equation could support the introduction of cognition-based mobility training in the treatment (Gunn et al, 2019; Virgili & Rubin, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Binocular integrated visual field deficits are associated with changes in local network function in primary open-angle glaucoma: a resting-state fMRI study

Demaria

Invernizzi

Ombelet

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Recent brain imaging studies have shown that the degenerative eye damage generally observed in the clinical setting, also extends intracranially. Both structural and functional brain changes have been observed in glaucoma participants, but we still lack an understanding of whether these changes also affect the integrity of cortical functional networks. This is relevant, as functional network integrity may affect the applicability of future treatments, as well as the options for rehabilitation or training. Here, we compare global and local functional connectivity between glaucoma and controls. Moreover, we study the relationship between functional connectivity and visual field (VF) loss. For our study, 20 subjects with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and 24 age similar healthy participants were recruited to undergo a complete ophthalmic assessment followed by two resting state (RS) (f)MRI scans. For each scan and for each group, the ROIs with EC values higher than the 95th percentile were considered the most central brain regions (hubs). Hubs for which we found a significant difference in EC in both scans between glaucoma and healthy were considered to provide evidence for network changes. In addition, for each participant, behavioural scores were derived based on the notion that a brain regions hub function might relate to the: 1) sensitivity of the worse eye, indicating disease severity, 2) sensitivity of both eyes combined, with one eye potentially compensating for loss in the other, or 3) difference in eye sensitivity, requiring additional network interactions. By correlating each of these VF scores and the EC values, we assessed whether VF defects could be associated with centrality alterations in POAG. Our results show that no functional connectivity disruptions were found at the global brain level in POAG participants. This indicates that in glaucoma global brain network communication is preserved. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between the EC value of the Lingual Gyrus, identified as a brain hub, and the behavioral score for the VF sensitivity of both eyes combined. The fact that reduced local network functioning is associated with reduced binocular VF sensitivity suggests the presence of local brain reorganization that has a bearing on functional visual abilities.

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“…Because there is a great need to learn more about psychosocial factors affecting vision recovery and restoration to clarify causes of response variability and move toward a more effective, personalized (and possibly preventive) treatment, we now explored how personality traits impact recovery of vision. To this end, we studied the influence of age, gender, personality traits, and chronic stress levels on outcome in patients who had previously been treated with repetitive transorbital ACS treatment, a vision restoration-inducing technique [for a recent review, see 51]. Specifically, our hypothesis was that personalities prone to stress would more likely suffer from VD and would most likely benefit from ACS, a technique known to improve blood flow.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality and stress influence vision restoration and recovery in glaucoma and optic neuropathy following alternating current stimulation: implications for personalized neuromodulation and rehabilitation

et al. 2020

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Purpose Identifying factors that affect recovery or restoration of neurological function is a key goal of rehabilitation in neurology and ophthalmology. One such factor can be prolonged mental stress, which may be not only the consequence of nervous system damage but also a major risk factor, or cause, of neural inactivation. Using the visual system as a model of neural injury, we wished to study how patients' stress and personality profiles correlate with vision recovery as induced by therapy with alternating current stimulation (ACS) in patients with optic nerve damage. Methods Personality and stress questionnaires were sent retrospectively to a clinical convenience sample of patients who suffer low vision due to optic nerve damage, which had previously been treated with ACS. The questionnaires included the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), the Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress (TICS), and the Flammer syndrome (FS) checklist, which probes signs of vascular dysregulation (VD). These scores were then correlated with the extent of ACS-induced vision restoration as recorded 1-3 years earlier by perimetric visual field tests. Results Two NEO-FFI personality factors (lower neuroticism, higher conscientiousness) and the presence of physiological Flammer signs were associated with greater recovery as were individual items of the factors openness and agreeableness. Single NEO-FFI item analysis revealed that recovery relates to greater extraversion (optimistic and happy), openness (less guided by authorities for decisions on moral issues), and agreeableness (argue less, like working with others, thoughtful, considerate) as well as the presence of FS signs (cold hands/feet, hypotension, slim body shapes, tinnitus). This suggests that patients with better recovery were more calm, peaceful and secure, hard-working, and reliable, and with high organizational skills. In contrast, patients with poor recovery had a tendency to be emotionally unstable, anxious, unhappy and prone to negative emotions, impulsive, careless, and unorganized. Chronic stress assessed with TICS did not correlate with recovery. Conclusion Vision restoration induced by ACS is greater in patients with less stress-prone personality traits and those who show signs of VD. Prospective studies are now needed to determine if personality has (i) a causal influence, i.e., patients with less stress-prone personalities and greater VD signs recover better, and/or (ii) if personality changes are an effect of the treatment, i.e., successful recovery induces personality changes. Though the cause-effect relationship is still open, we nevertheless propose that psychosocial factors and VD contribute to the highly variable outcome of vision restoration treatments in low vision rehabilitation. This has implications for preventive and personalized vision restoration and is of general value for our understanding of outcome variability in neuromodulation and neurological rehabilitation.

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Vision modulation, plasticity and restoration using non-invasive brain stimulation – An IFCN-sponsored review

Cited by 59 publications

References 281 publications

Multi-session visual cortex transcranial random noise stimulation in adults with amblyopia

Multi-session visual cortex transcranial random noise stimulation in adults with amblyopia

Binocular integrated visual field deficits are associated with changes in local network function in primary open-angle glaucoma: a resting-state fMRI study

Personality and stress influence vision restoration and recovery in glaucoma and optic neuropathy following alternating current stimulation: implications for personalized neuromodulation and rehabilitation

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