Neural Modulation Resource Page
Helping residents of Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale
and the Phoenix ~ West Valley Area find relief.
Life changing Care
Dr. George Kukurin
Chiropractic Neurologist
Important Downloads
Paperwork
K~CANN: Kukurin Chiropractic Acupuncture & Nutrition Network
Providing Life Changing
Care to the Palm Valley Area of Litchfield Park,
Goodyear, Avondale and the West
Valley
12409 West Indian School Road Avondale Arizona 85392
623.547.4725
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation:
It sounds silly, hooking a battery up to your brain.
But that is basically what transcranial
direct current stimulation is all about. Let me explain. Direct current is the same
type of current found in a battery, IT has a positive pole known as the anode and
a negative pole known as the cathode. This is different from alternative current,
which lack the positive and negative polarities. This is important because the positive
and negative poles have very strong and different effects on the functioning of the
nervous system. See the positive pole, the anode, causes stimulation of nerves.
The cathode suppresses the activity of nerves. This has very important implications
for the treatment of brain dysfunction. Lets say for example the motor cortex of
the brain (the part that controls the movement of muscles) is weak on the right This
would mean reduced ability to contract the muscles on the left side of the body.
We see this clinical presentation often in patients who have suffered a stroke.
In theory, placing the positive electrode over the damaged right half of the brain,
would increase the activity in the right motor cortex, which would increase the function
on the left side of the body. Recent research has demonstrated this is exactly what
happens. Conversely, if a part of the brain is over-
The positive electrode applied to the scalp excites brain activity, the negative electrode, called the cathode, calms brain activity.
We have been using transcranial direct current stimulation in our office for several years. It has tremendous potential to relieve chronic pain. We use high voltage rather than low voltage direct galvanic stimulation. It sounds a little scary I know, but high voltage galvanic has a number of advantages over the low voltage stimulation. First it is safer. The second advantage is it is less irritating and more comfortable for the patient. At least in theory it has a better ability to influence the nerves from the surface of the body. The results our patients experience have been quite rewarding. With the exception of reports of slight headache, we have had no reports of any adverse events or unwanted side effects. It can be combined with transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation discussed elsewhere on this web site.