Modulation of Local Field Potentials in the Deep Brain of Minipigs Through Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation

Hsiao-Chun Lin; Yi-Hui Wu; Ming-Dou Ker

doi:10.1016/j.neurom.2024.10.002

Modulation of Local Field Potentials in the Deep Brain of Minipigs Through Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation

Neuromodulation. 2024 Nov 8:S1094-7159(24)01192-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neurom.2024.10.002. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hsiao-Chun Lin¹, Yi-Hui Wu¹, Ming-Dou Ker²

Affiliations

¹ Biomedical Electronics Translational Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
² Biomedical Electronics Translational Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Institute of Electronics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. Electronic address: mdker@nycu.edu.tw.

PMID: 39520456
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2024.10.002

Abstract

Objectives: Transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) is a novel, noninvasive neuromodulation technique to modulate deep brain neural activity. Despite its potential, direct electrophysiological evidence of tTIS effects remains limited. This study investigates the impact of tTIS on local field potentials (LFPs) in the deep brain using minipigs implanted with deep brain electrodes.

Materials and methods: Three minipigs were implanted with electrodes in the subthalamic nucleus, and tTIS was applied using patch electrode pairs positioned on both sides of the scalp. Stimulation was delivered in sinewave voltage mode with intensities ≤2V. We evaluated the stimulus-response relationship, effects of different carrier frequencies, the range of entrained envelope oscillations, and changes resulting from adjusting the left-right stimulation intensity ratio.

Results: The results indicated that tTIS modulates deep-brain LFPs in an intensity-dependent manner. Carrier frequencies of 1 or 2 kHz were most effective in influencing LFP. Envelope oscillations <200 Hz were effectively entrained into deep-brain LFPs. Adjustments to the stimulation intensity ratio between the left and right sides yielded inconsistent responses, with right-sided stimulation playing a dominant role.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that tTIS can regulate LFP changes in the deep brain, highlighting its potential as a promising tool for future noninvasive neuromodulation applications.

Keywords: Carrier frequency; envelope oscillation; local field potential; minipig; transcranial temporal interference stimulation.