How and where Effectively Apply Cerebellum Stimulation: The frequency-dependent Modulation of Cerebellar Output by Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation.

Abstract

As brain-machine interfaces (BMI) are growingly used in clinical settings, understanding how to apply brain stimulation is increasingly important. Despite the emergence of optogenetic techniques, ethical and medical concerns suggest that interventions that are safe and non-invasive, such as Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS), are more likely to be employed in human in the near future. Consequently, the question of how and where to apply current stimulation is becoming increasingly important for the efficient neuromodulation of both neurological and psychiatric disorders. In this edition of The Cerebellum, Mourra et al. demonstrate how ctACS influences cerebellar output at both single-cell and population levels by stimulating Crus I in rats. As the neuron generating this output serves as a crucial convergence and divergence center in the nervous system, it can be leveraged as a strategic hub to target multiple brain structures and influence various behaviors. Accordingly, the discovery that neurons in this relatively deep brain region can be indirectly entrained through Purkinje neuron activation and optimal frequency around 80 Hz could be highly relevant for future medical interventions. In light of these findings, high-γ-tACS might be more effective in humans compared to the more commonly used low-γ (50 Hz) or θ-tACS (5 Hz). This could enhance the chance of cerebellar tACS being utilized in clinical settings and BMI.