title: Anodal cerebellar tDCS modulates lower extremity pain perception.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have investigated the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for pain management. The studies investigating therapeutic neuromodulation with tDCS for lower extremity pain are scarce and inconclusive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of cerebellar tDCS on lower extremity sensory and pain thresholds in healthy volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single-blind crossover repeated-measure study. Utilizing randomized conditions, we examined the effects of anodal, cathodal and sham stimulation of the right cerebellum in 14 healthy volunteers on sensory and pain thresholds which were induced in the right leg using electrical stimulation. tDCS intensity was 2 mA and the duration of the stimulation was 10 minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After anodal cerebellar stimulation the pain threshold of the ipsilateral leg was increased (p < 0.01). We could not detect any significant pain modulation with cathodal or sham stimulation (p > 0.05). Furthermore, no significant modulation of the sensory threshold was detected after anodal, cathodal or sham cerebellar tDCS (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that anodal cerebellar tDCS with a reference electrode positioned over the buccinator area modulates pain processing in the ipsilateral leg. Further investigation is required to evaluate possible application in chronic pain patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Basil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rafiq
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Einul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Babayev
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: HyunJi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Rowan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Metwaly
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Priam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sandilya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chusid
authors.affiliation: Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences & Health Administration, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Battaglia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cerebellum; lower extremities; pain; tDCS