title: tDCS possibly stimulates glial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Explore the possibility that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the brain affects glial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cable theory is used to estimate roughly transmembrane potential in neurons and glial cells. tDCS is additionally compared to neuronal stimulation techniques for which the mechanisms are well known.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Theoretical calculations indicated that tDCS can affect the glial transmembrane potential. The change is similar to what is physiologically observed in astrocytes during neuronal activation. In neurons, transmembrane potential changes are much weaker than the threshold for eliciting action potentials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on simplified cable theory, tDCS may affect glial cells' transmembrane potential and thereby the balance of neurotransmitters. No physiological evidence or proof is available, however.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is an exciting possibility that tDCS could manipulate glial cells because they are active participants in brain function, and have multiple essential roles in the human brain. This approach may change greatly the therapeutic potential of tDCS, and also affects the safety considerations.
authors.affiliation: Nexstim Ltd., Elimaenkatu 9B, 00510 Helsinki, Finland. j.o.ruohonen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jarmo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruohonen
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karhu
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*