CPM Seminar

Neural effects of transcranial brain stimulation

Christopher Pack

Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery
McGill University

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is a popular method for modulating brain activity. The technique has found widespread use in basic science, and recent studies have suggested that it has potential as a therapeutic measure for a range of psychiatric and neurological conditions. Others use it to improve normal brain functions. At the same time, the excitement about the technique has far outpaced our mechanistic understanding, and there is great confusion about what can realistically be accomplished with it. In this talk I outline two challenges related to tES. The first is the difficulty in generating electric fields of sufficient strength to modulate brain activity, without unpleasant side effects. The second is the complexity of the relationship between the kinds of neural modulation achievable with tES and functions such as memory, learning, and sensory perception. I will present data from my lab showing how tES affects single-neuron responses in various brain regions and how these might plausibly be linked to changes in behavior.