Changes in Electroencephalography by Modulation of Interferential Current Stimulation

Abstract

Interferential current (IFC) stimulation can alter pain perception. This study aimed to investigate the effects of IFC stimulation on motor cortex signals and observe how electroencephalography changes depend on IFC stimulation parameters. Forty-five healthy adults were divided into high frequency (HF)–low intensity (LI), HF–high intensity (HI), and low frequency (LF)–HI groups to compare their electroencephalography before, immediately after, and 30 min after current stimulation. The changes in relative beta power according to the intervention time showed significant differences between the HF–LI and HF–HI, as well as the LF–HI and HF–HI, groups in the C3 and P3 regions immediately after IFC stimulation. Similarly, the gamma band showed significant differences according to the intervention time between the LF–HI and HF–HI groups in the P3 region immediately following IFC intervention. For relative theta power, the interaction between group and time was significantly different in the Fp2, F3, F4, C3, C4, and P4 regions. Based on these results, we were able to map the activation in cerebral cortex regions according to the stimulation level, confirming changes in electroencephalogram activation through peripheral nerve stimulation. This study provides a foundation for future applications for selectively controlling feedback at a proper stimulation level in young adults.

Keywords

• electroencephalography
• frequency
• interferential current stimulation
• intensity
• modulation