AUTHOR=Gellner Anne-Kathrin , Reis Janine , Fritsch Brita 

TITLE=Glia: A Neglected Player in Non-invasive Direct Current Brain Stimulation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fncel.2016.00188

DOI=10.3389/fncel.2016.00188

ISSN=1662-5102

ABSTRACT=<p>Non-invasive electrical brain stimulation by application of direct current (DCS) promotes plasticity in neuronal networks <italic>in vitro</italic> and in <italic>in vivo</italic>. This effect has been mainly attributed to the direct modulation of neurons. Glia represents approximately 50% of cells in the brain. Glial cells are electrically active and participate in synaptic plasticity. Despite of that, effects of DCS on glial structures and on interaction with neurons are only sparsely investigated. In this perspectives article we review the current literature, present own dose response data and provide a framework for future research from two points of view: first, the direct effects of DCS on glia and second, the contribution of glia to DCS related neuronal plasticity.</p>