Using a form of low-impulse electrical stimulation to the brain, documented by neuroimaging, researchers report significantly improved neural function in participants with mild TBI. Their findings are published online in the current issue of the journal Brain Injury. In their pilot study, which involved six participants who had suffered mild TBI and experienced persistent post-concussion symptoms, the researchers used low-intensity pulses to the brain through transcranial electrical stimulation (LIP-tES), combined with concurrent electroencephalography monitoring (EEG). The treatment effects were assessed using magnetoencephalography (MEG) before and after treatment.
The researchers found that the brains of all six participants displayed abnormal slow-waves in initial, baseline MEG scans. Following treatment, MEG scans indicated measurably reduced abnormal slow-waves. The participants also reported a significant reduction in post-concussion scores. “For the first time, we’ve been able to document with neuroimaging the effects of LIP-tES treatment on brain functioning in mild TBI. It’s a small study, which certainly must be expanded, but it suggests new potential for effectively speeding the healing process in mild traumatic brain injuries.”