Neural oscillations
Can brain stimulation reduce anxiety long-term?
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
Repetitive rhythmic electrical stimulation of the brain's visual areas reduces anxiety and strengthens long-distance brain networks over several days.
Key findings
Active brain stimulation led to a 34% reduction in anxiety after the first session, which was maintained throughout the study. The stimulation also strengthened directional brain connections in the alpha frequency band, which naturally ranges from 8 to 12 hertz. This connectivity boost remained elevated even 24 hours after previous stimulation sessions, showing long-term benefits.
Methodology
Thirty-eight healthy young adults participated in a study consisting of four sessions, each separated by 24 hours. During these sessions, participants received 30 minutes of active or fake electrical brain stimulation. Researchers measured brain activity and tracked self-reported anxious arousal levels on a scale from 0 to 100.
Limitations
The study only looked at 38 healthy volunteers, meaning we do not know if these results apply to clinical populations. Because the sessions only lasted over four days, it is unclear if the benefits persist weeks later. Additionally, because there was no long-term follow-up after the fourth day, the researchers could not determine when the anxiety-reducing and network-strengthening effects eventually wear off.
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