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Neurology International Open 2017; 01(04): E312-E315
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-119865
New Developments in Neurology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

New Results on Brain Stimulation in Chronic Pain

Andrea Antal
1   Department of Clinical Neurophysiology
,
Walter Paulus
1   Department of Clinical Neurophysiology
,
Veit Rohde
2   Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
09 November 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Pain that has become chronic has lost its warning function and is associated with dysfunction of the so-called pain network. Systematic brain stimulation aims to normalize this network by modulating neuronal activities. Non-invasive DC stimulation (tDCS) or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) are considered effective in pain treatment. Here, the stimulation of the primary motor cortex (M1) plays a central role. If the pain is not adequately controlled by tDCS and rTMS, invasive procedures such as motor cortex stimulation (MCS) or deep brain stimulation are available as a last resort.

Key words

tDCS - transcranial direct current - deep brain stimulation - chronic pain - neuromodulation
 

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