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Meinzer M, Shahbabaie A, Antonenko D, Blankenburg F, Fischer R, Hartwigsen G, Nitsche MA, Li SC, Thielscher A, Timmann D, Waltemath D, Abdelmotaleb M, Kocataş H, Caisachana Guevara LM, Batsikadze G, Grundei M, Cunha T, Hayek D, Turker S, Schlitt F, Shi Y, Khan A, Burke M, Riemann S, Niemann F, Flöel A. Investigating the neural mechanisms of transcranial direct current stimulation effects on human cognition: current issues and potential solutions. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1389651. [PMID: 38957187 PMCID: PMC11218740 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1389651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been studied extensively for its potential to enhance human cognitive functions in healthy individuals and to treat cognitive impairment in various clinical populations. However, little is known about how tDCS modulates the neural networks supporting cognition and the complex interplay with mediating factors that may explain the frequently observed variability of stimulation effects within and between studies. Moreover, research in this field has been characterized by substantial methodological variability, frequent lack of rigorous experimental control and small sample sizes, thereby limiting the generalizability of findings and translational potential of tDCS. The present manuscript aims to delineate how these important issues can be addressed within a neuroimaging context, to reveal the neural underpinnings, predictors and mediators of tDCS-induced behavioral modulation. We will focus on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), because it allows the investigation of tDCS effects with excellent spatial precision and sufficient temporal resolution across the entire brain. Moreover, high resolution structural imaging data can be acquired for precise localization of stimulation effects, verification of electrode positions on the scalp and realistic current modeling based on individual head and brain anatomy. However, the general principles outlined in this review will also be applicable to other imaging modalities. Following an introduction to the overall state-of-the-art in this field, we will discuss in more detail the underlying causes of variability in previous tDCS studies. Moreover, we will elaborate on design considerations for tDCS-fMRI studies, optimization of tDCS and imaging protocols and how to assure high-level experimental control. Two additional sections address the pressing need for more systematic investigation of tDCS effects across the healthy human lifespan and implications for tDCS studies in age-associated disease, and potential benefits of establishing large-scale, multidisciplinary consortia for more coordinated tDCS research in the future. We hope that this review will contribute to more coordinated, methodologically sound, transparent and reproducible research in this field. Ultimately, our aim is to facilitate a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which tDCS modulates human cognitive functions and more effective and individually tailored translational and clinical applications of this technique in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Meinzer
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alireza Shahbabaie
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Daria Antonenko
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Felix Blankenburg
- Neurocomputation and Neuroimaging Unit, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rico Fischer
- Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Gesa Hartwigsen
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Wilhelm Wundt Institute for Psychology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael A. Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Bochum, Germany
- Bielefeld University, University Hospital OWL, Protestant Hospital of Bethel Foundation, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Shu-Chen Li
- Chair of Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Axel Thielscher
- Section for Magnetic Resonance, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dagmar Waltemath
- Core Unit Data Integration Center, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Harun Kocataş
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Giorgi Batsikadze
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Miro Grundei
- Neurocomputation and Neuroimaging Unit, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Teresa Cunha
- Section for Magnetic Resonance, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Dayana Hayek
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sabrina Turker
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Wilhelm Wundt Institute for Psychology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Frederik Schlitt
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yiquan Shi
- Chair of Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Asad Khan
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michael Burke
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Steffen Riemann
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Filip Niemann
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Agnes Flöel
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE Site Greifswald), Greifswald, Germany
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Malyutina S, Zelenkova V, Buivolova O, Oosterhuis EJ, Zmanovsky N, Feurra M. Modulating the interhemispheric balance in healthy participants with transcranial direct current stimulation: No significant effects on word or sentence processing. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2018; 186:60-66. [PMID: 30286319 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Patient studies and brain stimulation evidence suggest that language processing can be enhanced by altering the interhemispheric balance: namely, preferentially enhancing left-hemisphere activity while suppressing right-hemisphere activity. To our knowledge, no study has yet compared the effects of such bilateral brain stimulation to both logically necessary control conditions (separate left- and right-hemisphere stimulation). This study did so in a between-group sham-controlled design, applying transcranial direct current stimulation over Broca's area and/or its homologue in 72 healthy participants. The effects were measured not only in a single-word-level task but also in a sentence-level task, rarely tested previously. We did not find either any significant overall effects of stimulation or greater stimulation effects in the bilateral compared to control groups. This null result, obtained in a large sample, contributes to the debate on whether tDCS can modulate language processing in healthy individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Malyutina
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Valeriya Zelenkova
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Olga Buivolova
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | | | - Nikita Zmanovsky
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Matteo Feurra
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation
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Payne JS, Tainturier MJ. tDCS Facilitation of Picture Naming: Item-Specific, Task General, or Neither? Front Neurosci 2018; 12:549. [PMID: 30147643 PMCID: PMC6095956 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to clarify the conditions under which anodal tDCS applied to left hemisphere language sites may facilitate picture naming latencies in healthy young adults. We built upon previous studies by directly testing for item-specific and generalized effects of tDCS through manipulation of item-familiarization and through testing for both online and offline effects of stimulation, in the same paradigm. In addition, we tested for the robustness of these effects by comparing two left hemisphere sites critical for lexical retrieval. Twenty-eight healthy young adults completed two testing sessions receiving either anodal (1.5 mA, 20 min) or sham stimulation (1.5 mA, 30 s) in each session. Half of the participants received tDCS over the left inferior frontal region and the other half over the left posterior superior temporal region. All participants were asked to a name a set of pictures and their response latencies were compared at three time points (before, during, and after the end of stimulation). The stimulus set was constructed so that some items were presented at all time points, some before and after stimulation, and some during stimulation only. A parsimonious linear mixed effects model (LMM) revealed robust repetition priming effects as latencies were reliably faster for previously named items in all conditions. However, active tDCS did not produce any additional facilitation in relation to sham, and even led to slower performance in the IFG group when the stimulated items differed from those tested at baseline and post-test. Our findings add to the present debate about the efficacy of single-session tDCS for modulation of lexical retrieval in healthy young adults. We conclude that future research should take a more systematic, step-wise approach to the application of tDCS to the study of language and that more sensitive experimental paradigms, which include a training element, are more adapted to the study of cognitive processes in populations with optimal levels of cortical excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Payne
- Bilingual Aphasia Lab, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom.,Centre for Research on Bilingualism, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Marie-Josèphe Tainturier
- Bilingual Aphasia Lab, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom.,Centre for Research on Bilingualism, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
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