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Elucidating the neural mechanisms behind transcranial direct current stimulation

Award Number: R01MH123508
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2025

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Elucidating the neural mechanisms behind transcranial direct current stimulation - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation method in which direct current is passed through scalp electrodes. The current flows through the scalp, skull and CSF before creating a weak electric field in the brain and causing membrane polarization in cortical neurons. Over the last 20 years, thousands of studies have highlighted many wide ranging tDCS effects on perceptual, cognitive and motor function. More recently, clinical trials have begun to assess the effectiveness of tDCS in treating mental illnesses such as addiction, depression and schizophrenia. However, in spite of the massive amount of financial and scientific resources directed towards tDCS, there is considerable debate about its effectiveness and reproducibility. Perhaps even more surprisingly, the basic mechanism though which tDCS exerts these effects remains unknown. The aim of this project is to answer this fundamental question by elucidating and understanding the mechanisms driving the reported tDCS effects. In addition to the neuromodulatory effects caused by direct polarization of cortical neurons, tDCS also stimulates cranial and cervical nerves in the scalp that give indirect input to the brain. Potential effects from this indirect tDCS neuromodulatory route have been largely overlooked by the field. This project will combine healthy volunteer and animal experiments to investigate a range of potential tDCS mechanisms. Healthy volunteer’s experiments will use careful controls and pharmacological blockers to probe the potential mechanisms that are driving tDCS effects. Animal electrophysiology experiments will be used to test the validity of and to provide insight into these mechanisms. Given the current issues in the tDCS field, the deeper mechanistic insight provided by this project will be vital in advancing the tDCS field at this critical juncture. The new insight provided by this project will help direct financial and scientific resources towards the development of improved noninvasive neuromodulation therapies, which can then more effectively treat a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$610 )
2025	2024	KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT TE LEUVEN	OUDE MARKT 13	LEUVEN				BEL	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	6/16/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$610
														Subtotal = -$610

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $209,188 )
2024	2024	KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT TE LEUVEN	OUDE MARKT 13	LEUVEN				BEL	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	4/25/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$209,188
														Subtotal = $209,188

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $209,189 )
2023	2023	KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT TE LEUVEN	OUDE MARKT 13	LEUVEN	LEUVEN			BEL	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	4/24/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$209,189
														Subtotal = $209,189

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $209,188 )
2022	2022	KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT TE LEUVEN	OUDE MARKT 13	LEUVEN	LEUVEN			BEL	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	4/20/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$209,188
														Subtotal = $209,188

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $209,188 )
2021	2021	KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT TE LEUVEN	OUDE MARKT 13	LEUVEN	LEUVEN			BEL	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	4/12/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$209,188
														Subtotal = $209,188

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $217,174 )
2020	2020	KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT TE LEUVEN	OUDE MARKT 13	LEUVEN	LEUVEN	3000		BEL	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	6/26/2020	NEW	$217,174
														Subtotal = $217,174

Grand Total All Awards = $1,053,317

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Elucidating the neural mechanisms behind transcranial direct current stimulation

Award Number: R01MH123508

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2025

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