Stimulation Strategies Targeting Plasticity Mechanisms in Diseased Brain Networks

The field of brain stimulation has garnered significant attention due to its potential to modulate neural circuits and restore physiological network dynamics in various brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, tinnitus, and autism spectrum disorder. These conditions are often linked with abnormal brain synchrony and pathological connectivity. Recent studies have shown that electrical or magnetic stimulation, including techniques like deep brain stimulation (DBS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), can reorganize neural circuits and counteract these abnormalities. However, while these methods have demonstrated promise, the challenge remains in identifying optimal stimulation patterns that can induce favorable changes in synaptic connectivity, leading to long-lasting therapeutic effects. Current research suggests that complex spatio-temporal stimulation patterns may promote plasticity in target regions, but more investigation is needed to fully understand and harness these mechanisms.

This Research Topic aims to explore the impact of plasticity on the effectiveness of different brain stimulation modalities such as DBS, tDCS, tACS, and TMS. The primary objectives include understanding the network dynamics underlying changes in synaptic plasticity, structural plasticity, and homeostatic plasticity due to stimulation. By identifying potential plasticity-related mechanisms, the research seeks to optimize brain stimulation therapies and improve their long-lasting effects. Specific questions to be addressed include: What are the optimal stimulation patterns for inducing beneficial synaptic changes? How do different stimulation modalities affect plasticity at various scales, from microcircuits to large-scale networks? What are the underlying mechanisms that could be targeted to enhance therapeutic outcomes?

To gather further insights into this topic, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Stimulation-induced changes in synaptic, structural, and/or homeostatic plasticity
- Plasticity-related changes in brain oscillations following electrical/magnetic stimulation
- Plasticity mechanisms underlying long-lasting brain stimulation effects
- Responses of adaptive neural networks to electrical/magnetic stimulation
- Stimulation strategies informed by plasticity mechanisms
- Tuning of spatio-temporal stimulation patterns to exploit plasticity
- Multi-stability in plastic networks and computational models of diseased states

We expect that contributions will lead to the further development of spatio-temporally patterned stimulation protocols informed by plasticity, optimized for unlearning abnormal patterns of brain activity and connectivity, and shifting the dynamics of diseased brain networks toward healthy attractor states.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Brain stimulation, brain disorders, synaptic plasticity, structural plasticity, homeostatic plasticity, synchronization, neural oscillations, network models, network dynamics., network physiology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.