Neuromodulation may allow us to create sustained and generalizable changes in cognitive and brain functioning. For today’s episode, John and Ryan talk with Adam Woods, Ph.D., a national leader in the field of neuromodulation, about how novel non-invasive interventions can potentially enhance the effects of cognitive training and lead to improved cognitive functioning in older adults at risk for dementia. They discuss the physics of neuromodulation, as well as different techniques currently in use in neuromodulation research. Additionally, he talks about where he sees the field of non-invasive brain stimulation going, and how he has come to understand himself as a neuroscientist in the world of neuropsychology.
A pdf of the transcript for this episode is available here.
Topics Covered
- What transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are and how they work
- A brief history of tDCS and TMS and how their therapeutic benefits were discovered
- Parameters to consider when implementing TMS or tDCS
- The safety and tolerability of different neuromodulation techniques
- Control conditions for both TMS and tDCS studies
- Evidence for neuromodulation techniques as therapeutic in neuropsychiatric populations
- Evidence for neuromodulation techniques having an impact on cognition
- Comparing and contrasting TMS and tDCS
- Future directions of neuromodulation research
- Whether neuropsychologists should refer their patients for neuromodulation treatment
About Adam
Dr. Adam Woods is an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida. He is also the Assistant Director of the Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, a center sponsored by the McKnight Brain Research Foundation at the University of Florida. He is a national leader in the field of neuromodulation, leading the largest transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) and near infrared photobiomodulation trials to date. He has also conducted multiple cognitive training trials and published the first comprehensive textbook in the field of tES. His primary research interests include using non-invasive brain stimulation and cognitive training to facilitate neuroplastic response of brain tissue, to improve cognition in older adults, and to prevent dementia.
Selected Resources
Ahn, H., Woods, A. J., Kunik, M. E., Bhattacharjee, A., Chen, Z., Choi, E., & Fillingim, R. B. (2017). Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation over primary motor cortex (anode) and contralateral supraorbital area (cathode) on clinical pain severity and mobility performance in persons with knee osteoarthritis: An experimenter-and participant-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled pilot clinical study. Brain stimulation, 10(5), 902-909.
Ahn, H., Suchting, R., Woods, A. J., Miao, H., Green, C., Cho, R. Y., Choi, E. & Fillingim, R. B. (2018). Bayesian analysis of the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on experimental pain sensitivity in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: randomized sham-controlled pilot clinical study. Journal of Pain Research, 11, 2071.
Bikson, M., Grossman, P., Thomas, C., Zannou, A. L., Jiang, J., Adnan, T., Mourdoukoutas, A.P., Kronberg, G., Truong, D., Boggio, P., & Brunoni, A. R. (2016). Safety of transcranial direct current stimulation: evidence based update 2016. Brain stimulation, 9(5), 641-661.
Bikson, M., Paneri, B., Mourdoukoutas, A., Esmaeilpour, Z., Badran, B. W., Azzam, R., Adair, D., Datta, A., Fang, X.H., Wingeier, B., & Chao, D. (2018). Limited output transcranial electrical stimulation (LOTES-2017): Engineering principles, regulatory statutes, and industry standards for wellness, over-the-counter, or prescription devices with low risk. Brain stimulation, 11(1), 134-157.
Bikson, M., Grossman, P., Zannou, A. L., Kronberg, G., Truong, D., Boggio, P., Brunoni, A.R., Charvet, L., Fregni, F., Fritsch, B., & Gillick, B. (2017). Response to letter to the editor: Safety of transcranial direct current stimulation: Evidence based update 2016. Brain stimulation, 10(5), 986.
Bikson, M., Esmaeilpour, Z., Adair, D., Kronberg, G., Tyler, W. J., Antal, A., Datta, A., Sabel, B.A., Nitsche, M.A., Loo, C., & Edwards, D. (2019). Transcranial electrical stimulation nomenclature. Brain stimulation, 12(6), 1349-1366
Bikson, M., Esmaeilpour, Z., Adair, D., Kronberg, G., Tyler, W. J., Antal, A., Datta, A., Sabel, B.A., Nitsche, M.A., Loo, C., & Edwards, D. (2019). Transcranial electrical stimulation nomenclature. Brain stimulation, 12(6), 1349-1366.
Im, J. J., Jeong, H., Bikson, M., Woods, A. J., Unal, G., Oh, J. K., Na, S., Park, J.S., Knotkova, H., Song, I.U.,& Chung, Y. A. (2019). Effects of 6-month at-home transcranial direct current stimulation on cognition and cerebral glucose metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease. Brain stimulation, 12(5), 1222-1228.
McLaren, M. E., Nissim, N. R., & Woods, A. J. (2018). The effects of medication use in transcranial direct current stimulation: a brief review. Brain stimulation, 11(1), 52-58.
Nissim, N. R., O’Shea, A., Indahlastari, A., Kraft, J. N., Von Mering, O., Aksu, S., Porges, E., Cohen, R., & Woods, A. J. (2019). Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation paired with cognitive training on functional connectivity of the working memory network in older adults. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 11, 340.
Nissim, N. R., O’Shea, A., Indahlastari, A., Telles, R., Richards, L., Porges, E., Cohen, R., & Woods, A. J. (2019). Effects of in-scanner bilateral frontal tDCS on functional connectivity of the working memory network in older adults. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 11, 51.
Szymkowicz, S. M., McLaren, M. E., Suryadevara, U., & Woods, A. J. (2016). Transcranial direct current stimulation use in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders: a brief review. Psychiatric annals, 46(11), 642-646.
Woods, A. J., Antal, A., Bikson, M., Boggio, P. S., Brunoni, A. R., Celnik, P., Cohen, L.G., Fregni, F., Herrmann, C.S., Kappenman, E.S., & Knotkova, H. (2016). A technical guide to tDCS, and related non-invasive brain stimulation tools. Clinical neurophysiology, 127(2), 1031-1048.
Woods, A. J., Cohen, R., Marsiske, M., Alexander, G. E., Czaja, S. J., & Wu, S. (2018). Augmenting cognitive training in older adults (The ACT Study): Design and Methods of a Phase III tDCS and cognitive training trial. Contemporary clinical trials, 65, 19-32.
Outstanding overview of Tx with two non-invasive electrodes placement on skin of cranium with TMS and TDCS to facilitate neuroplasticity to lift depressive symptoms in patients who have shown a resistance to other interventions (pharmacological, cognitive-behavioral therapy…); and is showing promise for cognitive abilities retention in the face of age-related deterioration.