Noninvasive brain stimulation to modulate neuroplasticity in traumatic brain injury
Abstract
Objective To review the use of noninvasive brain stimulation (NBS) as a therapeutic tool to enhance neuroplasticity following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and methods Based on a literature search, we describe the pathophysiological events following TBI and the rationale for the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in this setting. Results The pathophysiological mechanisms occurring after TBI vary across time and therefore require differential interventions. Theoretically, given the neurophysiological effects of both TMS and tDCS, these tools may: 1) decrease cortical hyperexcitability acutely after TBI; 2) modulate long-term synaptic plasticity as to avoid maladaptive consequences; and 3) combined with physical and behavioral therapy, facilitate cortical reorganization and consolidation of learning in specific neural networks. All of these interventions may help decrease the burden of disabling sequelae after brain injury. Conclusions Evidence from animal and human studies reveals the potential benefit of NBS in decreasing the extent of injury and enhancing plastic changes to facilitate learning and recovery of function in lesioned neural tissue. However, this evidence is mainly theoretical at this point. Given safety constraints, studies in TBI patients are necessary to address the role of NBS in this condition as well as to further elucidate its therapeutic effects and define optimal stimulation paramet…
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Evidence suggests that rTMS may promote reorganization of brain networks, which may enhance recovery following injury.
“Of particular relevance to concussion, evidence suggests that rTMS may promote reorganization of brain networks which may enhance recovery following injury (20).”
Cites
Nitsche, M. A., & Paulus, W. (2000) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.t01-1-00633.x · Cited by 5,656 · see citing works
Rossi, S., Hallett, M., Rossini, P. M., & Pascual-Leone, A. (2009) · Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2009.08.016 · Cited by 5,367 · see citing works
Transcranial direct current stimulation: State of the art 2008
Nitsche, M. A., Cohen, L. G., Wassermann, E. M., Priori, A., Lang, N., Antal, A., Paulus, W., Hummel, F., Boggio, P. S., Fregni, F., et al. (2008) · Brain Stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2008.06.004 · Cited by 3,057 · see citing works
Self-citationStructural basis of long-term potentiation in single dendritic spines
Matsuzaki, M., Honkura, N., Ellis-Davies, G. C. R., & Kasai, H. (2004) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature02617 · Cited by 2,500 · see citing works
Depression of motor cortex excitability by low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation
Chen, R., Classen, J., Gerloff, C., Celnik, P., Wassermann, E. M., Hallett, M., & Cohen, L. G. (1997) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.48.5.1398 · Cited by 2,128 · see citing works
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of prefrontal cortex enhances working memory
Fregni, F., Boggio, P. S., Nitsche, M., Bermpohl, F., Antal, A., Feredoes, E., Marcolin, M. A., Rigonatti, S. P., Silva, M. T. A., Paulus, W., et al. (2005) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-005-2334-6 · Cited by 1,159 · see citing works
Self-citationTranscranial magnetic stimulation and synaptic plasticity: Experimental framework and human models
Thickbroom, G. W. (2007) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-007-0991-3 · Cited by 326 · see citing works
Bolognini, N., Vallar, G., Casati, C., Latif, L. A., El-Nazer, R., Williams, J., Banco, E., Macea, D. D., Tesio, L., Chessa, C., et al. (2011) · Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair · doi:10.1177/1545968311411056 · Cited by 318 · see citing works
Self-citationCortical Language Activation in Stroke Patients Recovering From Aphasia With Functional MRI
Cao, Y., Vikingstad, E. M., George, K. P., Johnson, A. F., & Welch, K. M. A. (1999) · Stroke · doi:10.1161/01.str.30.11.2331 · Cited by 299 · see citing works
Müller, M. (2000) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1016/s0893-133x(00)00099-3 · Cited by 292 · see citing works
Maxwell, W. L., Watt, C., Graham, D. I., & Gennarelli, T. A. (1993) · Acta Neuropathologica · doi:10.1007/bf00334880 · Cited by 161 · see citing works
A plasticity-based theory of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
MESULAM, M. ‐. (2000) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb05559.x · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Harris, N. G., Mironova, Y. A., Hovda, D. A., & Sutton, R. L. (2010) · Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology · doi:10.1097/nen.0b013e3181cb5bee · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Bortolomasi, M., Minelli, A., Fuggetta, G., Perini, M., Comencini, S., Fiaschi, A., & Manganotti, P. (2007) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2006.04.010 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Meek, B. P., Hill, S., & Modirrousta, M. (2021) · Brain Injury · doi:10.1080/02699052.2020.1857837 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Oberman, L. M., Penafiel, A. I., Dieterich, R., Phan, C. T., Chou, Y.-Y., Pham, D. L., Adamson, M. M., Hines, C. E., Rezaee, Z., Deng, Z.-D., et al. (2025) · Frontiers in Neurology · doi:10.3389/fneur.2025.1605157
- Authors
- Villamar, M. F., Santos Portilla, A., Fregni, F., & Zafonte, R.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Venue
- Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-08
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 326-338
- ISSN
- 1094-7159 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1826016273
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 0.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuromodulation Technology at the Neural Interface (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
- Keywords
- non-invasive brain stimulation, traumatic brain injury, neuroplasticity, transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, cortical hyperexcitability, synaptic plasticity, cortical reorganization, functional recovery
- MeSH terms
- Acute Disease, Adaptation, Physiological, Brain Injuries, Chronic Disease, Combined Modality Therapy, Electric Stimulation Therapy, Humans, Neuronal Plasticity, Physical Therapy Modalities, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
