Title:Non-invasive Cerebellar Stimulation in Cerebellar Disorders
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
Author(s): Chiara Di Nuzzo, Fabiana Ruggiero, Francesca Cortese, Ilaria Cova, Alberto Priori and Roberta Ferrucci*
Affiliation:
- "Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan Medical School, Milan,Italy
Keywords:
Cerebellar Ataxia, children ataxic cerebral palsy, clinical treatment, Essential tremor, neuromodulation, noninvasive
brain stimulation, non-invasive cerebellar stimulation, tACS, tDCS, TMS.
Abstract: Background & Objective: Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) might be a valuable
therapeutic approach for neurological diseases by modifying the cortical activity in the human brain
and promoting neural plasticity. Currently, researchers are exploring the use of NIBS on the cerebellum
to promote functional neural changes in cerebellar disorders.
In the presence of cerebellar dysfunction, several movement disorders, such as kinetic tremor, ataxia
of gait, limb dysmetria and oculomotor deficits, become progressively more disabling in daily life, and
no pharmacological treatments currently exist.
Conclusion: In the present mini-review, we report the main evidence concerning the use of NIBS in
three specific cerebellar dysfunctions, cerebellar ataxias (CA), essential tremor (ET) and ataxic cerebral
palsy, in which abnormalities of neuroplasticity and cortical excitability can be important pathophysiological
factors.
