Microscopic Magnetic Stimulation for PLP

Neurological diseases for the most part are caused by abnormal neural activity. These are usually dealt with by a variety of approaches, be it therapeutic or pharmacological. However most often than not, the former is ineffective against biological diseases, and the latter “are usually slow in action and sometimes causing unwanted side effects such as systemic toxicity” (Ye & Barrett 2021). As such, an alternative comes in the form of electric stimulation. “Electric stimulation to the neural tissue provides a quick and reversible method in control neural activity” (Ye & Barrett 2021). 

        

    This topic in detail is outlined in the paper titled, “Somatic inhibition by microscopic magnetic stimulation” by Hui Ye and Lauryn Barrett. In the paper, the primary focus is on the potential use of microscopic magnetic stimulation as a source of ganglion cell inhibition. In the experiment, Ye and Barrett observed the functional effects of the stimulation in Aplysia californica. Upon experimenting, they observed that the “presence of the ganglion sheath had minimal impact on the inhibitory effects of the coil” (Ye & Barrett 2021). Additionally, “the inhibitory effect was local to the soma, and was sufficient in blocking the neuron’s functional output” (Ye & Barrett 2021). As such, the magnetic coil worked as an effective inhibitor within ganglion cells. However, upon reading this paper, one can only be filled with questions as to its human applications. “Can this same technology be applied to humans, and if so, how?”

            Another paper, titled, “Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for phantom limb pain in landmine victims: A double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial” by Malavera et. al. looks to answer just that. This study took 54 patients with PLP (Phantom Limb Pain), and enrolled them “in a randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled parallel group, single center trial” (Malavera et. al. 2016). A real coil was used for one group, while a fake one was used for another. The patients in the real coil group were subject to a stimulation rate of 10 Hz for 20 minutes per day for 10 days straight. The patients’ level of pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale 15 days after the beginning of the experiment, as well as 30. The patients themselves had little to no side effects because of the coil itself. After 15 days, most of the patients in the test group (70%) attained a significant clinical pain reduction, while the control group remained relatively the same. After 30 days, both groups returned to relatively the same.

             While these two papers investigate similar concepts, they are not the exact same. Ye and Barrett’s study used microscopic coils to directly induce an electric field within the mollusks. Malavera et. al.’s study used external coils for a set duration per day. With the field of Neuroscience being as new and deep as it is, one may question, can these two studies be applied to one another? Much like the creation of new technologies such as Neuralink today, can a microscopic coil like that of Ye and Barrett’s experiment be permanently (surgically) implanted within patients suffering from PLP? Malavera et. al.’s experiment proved that a small induced daily frequency was effective for a few days, but long-term had no consequences. With an implanted coil providing daily induced repetitive magnetic stimulation, could this be an effective and long-term solution? PLP is a serious issue in the United States, as “1.7 million people live with limb loss each year” (Kaur & Guan 2018), and “approximately 60%–80% of amputees experience phantom limb sensations.” (Kaur & Guan 2018). By providing a long-term solution, we can improve the quality of life for these millions of amputees in the US, if not millions more in the world.

Works Cited:

Kaur, Amreet, and Yuxi Guan. “Phantom limb pain: A literature review.” Chinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi vol. 21,6 (2018): 366-368. doi:10.1016/j.cjtee.2018.04.006

 

Malavera, Alejandra et al. “Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Phantom Limb Pain in Land Mine Victims: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.” The journal of pain vol. 17,8 (2016): 911-8. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2016.05.003

 

Ye, Hui & Barrett, Lauryn. (2021). Somatic inhibition by microscopic magnetic stimulation. Scientific Reports. 11. 13591. 10.1038/s41598-021-93114-x