Using noise for the better: The effects of transcranial random noise stimulation on the brain and behavior

Onno van der Groen; Weronika Potok; Nicole Wenderoth; Grace Edwards; Jason B Mattingley; Dylan Edwards

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104702

Using noise for the better: The effects of transcranial random noise stimulation on the brain and behavior

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022 Jul:138:104702. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104702. Epub 2022 May 17.

Authors

Onno van der Groen¹, Weronika Potok², Nicole Wenderoth², Grace Edwards³, Jason B Mattingley⁴, Dylan Edwards⁵

Affiliations

¹ Neurorehabilitation and Robotics Laboratory, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup 60270, Australia. Electronic address: o.vandergroen@ecu.edu.au.
² Neural Control of Movement Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Zurich 8093, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), University of Zurich, Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, University and Balgrist Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland.
³ Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems@UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto 16163, Italy; Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge 02138, MA, USA.
⁴ Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia; School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto M5G 1M1, Canada.
⁵ Neurorehabilitation and Robotics Laboratory, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup 60270, Australia; Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Elkins Park, Philadelphia 19027, USA.

PMID: 35595071
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104702

Abstract

Van der Groen, O., Potok, W., Wenderoth, N., Edwards, G., Mattingley, J.B. and Edwards, D. Using noise for the better: The effects of transcranial random noise stimulation on the brain and behavior. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV X (X) XXX-XXX 2021.- Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) is a non-invasive electrical brain stimulation method that is increasingly employed in studies of human brain function and behavior, in health and disease. tRNS is effective in modulating perception acutely and can improve learning. By contrast, its effectiveness for modulating higher cognitive processes is variable. Prolonged stimulation with tRNS, either as one longer application, or multiple shorter applications, may engage plasticity mechanisms that can result in long-term benefits. Here we provide an overview of the current understanding of the effects of tRNS on the brain and behavior and provide some specific recommendations for future research.

Keywords: Behavior; Cognition; Non-invasive brain stimulation; Perception; Stochastic resonance; Transcranial random noise stimulation.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brain
Electric Stimulation
Humans
Learning
Noise
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation* / methods