Null tDCS Effects in a Sustained Attention Task: The Modulating Role of Learning
The purpose of this study was to investigate sustained attention through modulation of the fronto-cerebral network with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and control participants. Thirty-seven participants (21 with ADHD) und...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00476/full |
| _version_ | 1819209261154041856 |
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| author | Noa Jacoby Michal Lavidor |
| author_facet | Noa Jacoby Michal Lavidor |
| author_sort | Noa Jacoby |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this study was to investigate sustained attention through modulation of the fronto-cerebral network with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and control participants. Thirty-seven participants (21 with ADHD) underwent three separate sessions (baseline, active tDCS, and sham) and performed the MOXO Continuous Performance Test (CPT). We applied double anodal stimulation of 1.8 mA tDCS for 20 min over the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), with the cathode over the cerebellum. Baseline session revealed significant differences between ADHD and control participants in the MOXO-CPT attention and hyperactivity scores, validating the MOXO as a diagnostic tool. However, there were no tDCS effects in most MOXO-CPT measures, except hyperactivity, due to a significant learning effect. We conclude that learning and repetition effects in cognitive tasks need to be considered when designing within-subjects tDCS experiments, as there are natural improvements between sessions that conceal potential stimulation effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:52:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-909930da92624293be4c96620c8a0341 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:52:28Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-909930da92624293be4c96620c8a03412022-12-21T17:57:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782018-04-01910.3389/fpsyg.2018.00476333610Null tDCS Effects in a Sustained Attention Task: The Modulating Role of LearningNoa JacobyMichal LavidorThe purpose of this study was to investigate sustained attention through modulation of the fronto-cerebral network with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and control participants. Thirty-seven participants (21 with ADHD) underwent three separate sessions (baseline, active tDCS, and sham) and performed the MOXO Continuous Performance Test (CPT). We applied double anodal stimulation of 1.8 mA tDCS for 20 min over the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), with the cathode over the cerebellum. Baseline session revealed significant differences between ADHD and control participants in the MOXO-CPT attention and hyperactivity scores, validating the MOXO as a diagnostic tool. However, there were no tDCS effects in most MOXO-CPT measures, except hyperactivity, due to a significant learning effect. We conclude that learning and repetition effects in cognitive tasks need to be considered when designing within-subjects tDCS experiments, as there are natural improvements between sessions that conceal potential stimulation effects.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00476/fulltDCSADHDsustained-attentionlearning-effectCPTDLPFC |
| spellingShingle | Noa Jacoby Michal Lavidor Null tDCS Effects in a Sustained Attention Task: The Modulating Role of Learning Frontiers in Psychology tDCS ADHD sustained-attention learning-effect CPT DLPFC |
| title | Null tDCS Effects in a Sustained Attention Task: The Modulating Role of Learning |
| title_full | Null tDCS Effects in a Sustained Attention Task: The Modulating Role of Learning |
| title_fullStr | Null tDCS Effects in a Sustained Attention Task: The Modulating Role of Learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Null tDCS Effects in a Sustained Attention Task: The Modulating Role of Learning |
| title_short | Null tDCS Effects in a Sustained Attention Task: The Modulating Role of Learning |
| title_sort | null tdcs effects in a sustained attention task the modulating role of learning |
| topic | tDCS ADHD sustained-attention learning-effect CPT DLPFC |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00476/full |
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