The effect of bipolar bihemispheric tDCS on executive function and working memory abilities
IntroductionCognitive functioning is central to the ability to learn, problem solve, remember, and use information in a rapid and accurate manner and cognitive abilities are fundamental for communication, autonomy, and quality of life. Transcranial electric stimulation (tES) is a very promising tool...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1275878/full |
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| author | Adam J. Toth Adam J. Toth Cliodhna Harvey Hannah Gullane Niall Kelly Adam Bruton Adam Bruton Mark J. Campbell Mark J. Campbell |
| author_facet | Adam J. Toth Adam J. Toth Cliodhna Harvey Hannah Gullane Niall Kelly Adam Bruton Adam Bruton Mark J. Campbell Mark J. Campbell |
| author_sort | Adam J. Toth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionCognitive functioning is central to the ability to learn, problem solve, remember, and use information in a rapid and accurate manner and cognitive abilities are fundamental for communication, autonomy, and quality of life. Transcranial electric stimulation (tES) is a very promising tool shown to improve various motor and cognitive functions. When applied as a direct current stimulus (transcranial direct current stimulation; tDCS) over the dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex (DLPFC), this form of neurostimulation has mixed results regarding its ability to slow cognitive deterioration and potentially enhance cognitive functioning, requiring further investigation. This study set out to comprehensively investigate the effect that anodal and cathodal bipolar bihemispheric tDCS have on executive function and working memory abilities.Methods72 healthy young adults were recruited, and each participant was randomly allocated to either a control group (CON), a placebo group (SHAM) or one of two neurostimulation groups (Anodal; A-STIM and Cathodal; C-STIM). All participants undertook cognitive tests (Stroop & N Back) before and after a 30-minute stimulation/ sham/ control protocol.ResultsOverall, our results add further evidence that tDCS may not be as efficacious for enhancing cognitive functioning as it has been shown to be for enhancing motor learning when applied over M1. We also provide evidence that the effect of neurostimulation on cognitive functioning may be moderated by sex, with males demonstrating a benefit from both anodal and cathodal stimulation when considering performance on simple attention trial types within the Stroop task.DiscussionConsidering this finding, we propose a new avenue for tDCS research, that the potential that sex may moderate the efficacy of neurostimulation on cognitive functioning. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:21:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4dba4047b5cc49cd87c99b0bf730f426 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:21:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4dba4047b5cc49cd87c99b0bf730f4262024-01-03T04:43:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782024-01-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.12758781275878The effect of bipolar bihemispheric tDCS on executive function and working memory abilitiesAdam J. Toth0Adam J. Toth1Cliodhna Harvey2Hannah Gullane3Niall Kelly4Adam Bruton5Adam Bruton6Mark J. Campbell7Mark J. Campbell8Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, IrelandLero Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, IrelandDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, IrelandDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, IrelandDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, IrelandDepartment of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United KingdomSchool of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, London, United KingdomDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, IrelandThe Science Foundation Ireland Center for Software Research, Lero Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, IrelandIntroductionCognitive functioning is central to the ability to learn, problem solve, remember, and use information in a rapid and accurate manner and cognitive abilities are fundamental for communication, autonomy, and quality of life. Transcranial electric stimulation (tES) is a very promising tool shown to improve various motor and cognitive functions. When applied as a direct current stimulus (transcranial direct current stimulation; tDCS) over the dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex (DLPFC), this form of neurostimulation has mixed results regarding its ability to slow cognitive deterioration and potentially enhance cognitive functioning, requiring further investigation. This study set out to comprehensively investigate the effect that anodal and cathodal bipolar bihemispheric tDCS have on executive function and working memory abilities.Methods72 healthy young adults were recruited, and each participant was randomly allocated to either a control group (CON), a placebo group (SHAM) or one of two neurostimulation groups (Anodal; A-STIM and Cathodal; C-STIM). All participants undertook cognitive tests (Stroop & N Back) before and after a 30-minute stimulation/ sham/ control protocol.ResultsOverall, our results add further evidence that tDCS may not be as efficacious for enhancing cognitive functioning as it has been shown to be for enhancing motor learning when applied over M1. We also provide evidence that the effect of neurostimulation on cognitive functioning may be moderated by sex, with males demonstrating a benefit from both anodal and cathodal stimulation when considering performance on simple attention trial types within the Stroop task.DiscussionConsidering this finding, we propose a new avenue for tDCS research, that the potential that sex may moderate the efficacy of neurostimulation on cognitive functioning.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1275878/fulltranscranial direct cortical stimulation (tDCS)executive functionsworking memory (WM)left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)neuromodulation |
| spellingShingle | Adam J. Toth Adam J. Toth Cliodhna Harvey Hannah Gullane Niall Kelly Adam Bruton Adam Bruton Mark J. Campbell Mark J. Campbell The effect of bipolar bihemispheric tDCS on executive function and working memory abilities Frontiers in Psychology transcranial direct cortical stimulation (tDCS) executive functions working memory (WM) left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) neuromodulation |
| title | The effect of bipolar bihemispheric tDCS on executive function and working memory abilities |
| title_full | The effect of bipolar bihemispheric tDCS on executive function and working memory abilities |
| title_fullStr | The effect of bipolar bihemispheric tDCS on executive function and working memory abilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of bipolar bihemispheric tDCS on executive function and working memory abilities |
| title_short | The effect of bipolar bihemispheric tDCS on executive function and working memory abilities |
| title_sort | effect of bipolar bihemispheric tdcs on executive function and working memory abilities |
| topic | transcranial direct cortical stimulation (tDCS) executive functions working memory (WM) left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) neuromodulation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1275878/full |
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