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The Journal of Neuroscience, April 22, 2009, 29(16):5202-5206; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4432-08.2009

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Brief Communications
Polarity-Sensitive Modulation of Cortical Neurotransmitters by Transcranial Stimulation

Charlotte J. Stagg,1 Jonathan G. Best,1 Mary C. Stephenson,2 Jacinta O'Shea,1 Marzena Wylezinska,1,3 Z. Tamas Kincses,1 Peter G. Morris,2 Paul M. Matthews,1,4,5 and Heidi Johansen-Berg1

1Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom, 2Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom, 3Biological Imaging Centre, Imaging Sciences Department, Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom, 4Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom, and 5GlaxoSmithKline Clinical Imaging Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Charlotte J. Stagg, Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. Email: cstagg{at}fmrib.ox.ac.uk

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates cortical excitability and is being used for human studies more frequently. Here we probe the underlying neuronal mechanisms by measuring polarity-specific changes in neurotransmitter concentrations using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). MRS provides evidence that excitatory (anodal) tDCS causes locally reduced GABA while inhibitory (cathodal) stimulation causes reduced glutamatergic neuronal activity with a highly correlated reduction in GABA, presumably due to the close biochemical relationship between the two neurotransmitters.

Received July 18, 2008; revised Feb. 4, 2009; accepted March 13, 2009.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Charlotte J. Stagg, Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. Email: cstagg{at}fmrib.ox.ac.uk






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