Brain Stim Lab

We are thrilled to celebrate a major milestone: Marta Estévez Rodríguez has just published her first first-author paper in Frontiers in Neuroscience! 🎉

The article, titled “Modulating excitation/inhibition balance through transcranial electrical stimulation: physiological mechanisms in animal models” (Estévez-Rodríguez et al., 2025), offers a comprehensive and timely mini-review on how different forms of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES)—including tDCS, tACS, and tRNS—shape the delicate balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I) in the brain.

Marta’s work synthesizes cutting-edge findings from animal studies to reveal how tES influences synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter systems, neuronal excitability, and network-level dynamics. The review highlights:

• How each tES modality engages distinct molecular and cellular mechanisms, from NMDA-dependent plasticity to neurotrophic signaling.
• The role of glutamatergic and GABAergic circuits in regulating E/I balance.
• How modern tools like high-density electrophysiology, optogenetics, and two-photon imaging are offering unprecedented mechanistic insights.
• The translational value of animal research for optimizing stimulation protocols and paving the way for personalized neuromodulation strategies in human brain disorders.

This paper not only showcases Marta’s growing expertise but also contributes a rigorous, up-to-date framework for understanding how electrical stimulation can reshape neural function—an important step toward improving therapies for conditions involving E/I imbalance.

🔗 Read the full paper here: [link to the article]

We could not be prouder of Marta and the team behind this work.
Huge congratulations, Marta! 🌟
We’re excited to see where your research takes you next.