The University of Wisconsin System was awarded a $253,756 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) federal grant program. The purpose of this research project is to investigate the potential toxic effects and safety thresholds of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, on the developing brains of infant and young guinea pigs. The research aims to generate critical knowledge that will help define safe tDCS dosage levels for use in infants and young children, addressing current ethical concerns around the clinical application of this technology in early childhood. The project will utilize computational modeling and tissue analysis techniques to pinpoint neurotoxic, gliotoxic, and neuroinflammatory thresholds across different stages of brain maturation in the guinea pig model, which is considered equivalent to human development from 10 to 30 months of age. Findings from this preclinical study are expected to provide valuable guidance for the safe and responsible use of tDCS and other non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in pediatric populations.
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