Optimising Cognitive Enhancement: Systematic Assessment of the Effects of tDCS Duration in Older Adults
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to support cognition and brain function in older adults. However, there is an absence of research specifically designed to determine optimal stimulation protocols, and much of what is known about subtle distinctions in tDCS parameters is...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-05-01
|
| Series: | Brain Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/5/304 |
| _version_ | 1797567804448178176 |
|---|---|
| author | Claire J. Hanley Sophie L. Alderman Elinor Clemence |
| author_facet | Claire J. Hanley Sophie L. Alderman Elinor Clemence |
| author_sort | Claire J. Hanley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to support cognition and brain function in older adults. However, there is an absence of research specifically designed to determine optimal stimulation protocols, and much of what is known about subtle distinctions in tDCS parameters is based on young adult data. As the first systematic exploration targeting older adults, this study aimed to provide insight into the effects of variations in stimulation duration. Anodal stimulation of 10 and 20 min, as well as a sham-control variant, was administered to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Stimulation effects were assessed in relation to a novel attentional control task. Ten minutes of anodal stimulation significantly improved task-switching speed from baseline, contrary to the sham-control and 20 min variants. The findings represent a crucial step forwards for methods development, and the refinement of stimulation to enhance executive function in the ageing population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:47:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-73a50bc9a2cb42e09140f9f6dbd8cc30 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:47:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-73a50bc9a2cb42e09140f9f6dbd8cc302023-11-20T00:40:57ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252020-05-0110530410.3390/brainsci10050304Optimising Cognitive Enhancement: Systematic Assessment of the Effects of tDCS Duration in Older AdultsClaire J. Hanley0Sophie L. Alderman1Elinor Clemence2Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UKDepartment of Psychology, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UKDepartment of Psychology, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UKTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to support cognition and brain function in older adults. However, there is an absence of research specifically designed to determine optimal stimulation protocols, and much of what is known about subtle distinctions in tDCS parameters is based on young adult data. As the first systematic exploration targeting older adults, this study aimed to provide insight into the effects of variations in stimulation duration. Anodal stimulation of 10 and 20 min, as well as a sham-control variant, was administered to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Stimulation effects were assessed in relation to a novel attentional control task. Ten minutes of anodal stimulation significantly improved task-switching speed from baseline, contrary to the sham-control and 20 min variants. The findings represent a crucial step forwards for methods development, and the refinement of stimulation to enhance executive function in the ageing population.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/5/304transcranial direct current stimulationnon-invasive brain stimulationstimulation durationagingneural plasticityattentional control |
| spellingShingle | Claire J. Hanley Sophie L. Alderman Elinor Clemence Optimising Cognitive Enhancement: Systematic Assessment of the Effects of tDCS Duration in Older Adults Brain Sciences transcranial direct current stimulation non-invasive brain stimulation stimulation duration aging neural plasticity attentional control |
| title | Optimising Cognitive Enhancement: Systematic Assessment of the Effects of tDCS Duration in Older Adults |
| title_full | Optimising Cognitive Enhancement: Systematic Assessment of the Effects of tDCS Duration in Older Adults |
| title_fullStr | Optimising Cognitive Enhancement: Systematic Assessment of the Effects of tDCS Duration in Older Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimising Cognitive Enhancement: Systematic Assessment of the Effects of tDCS Duration in Older Adults |
| title_short | Optimising Cognitive Enhancement: Systematic Assessment of the Effects of tDCS Duration in Older Adults |
| title_sort | optimising cognitive enhancement systematic assessment of the effects of tdcs duration in older adults |
| topic | transcranial direct current stimulation non-invasive brain stimulation stimulation duration aging neural plasticity attentional control |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/5/304 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT clairejhanley optimisingcognitiveenhancementsystematicassessmentoftheeffectsoftdcsdurationinolderadults AT sophielalderman optimisingcognitiveenhancementsystematicassessmentoftheeffectsoftdcsdurationinolderadults AT elinorclemence optimisingcognitiveenhancementsystematicassessmentoftheeffectsoftdcsdurationinolderadults |