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Fresnoza S, Ischebeck A. Probing Our Built-in Calculator: A Systematic Narrative Review of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Studies on Arithmetic Operation-Related Brain Areas. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0318-23.2024. [PMID: 38580452 PMCID: PMC10999731 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0318-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
This systematic review presented a comprehensive survey of studies that applied transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial electrical stimulation to parietal and nonparietal areas to examine the neural basis of symbolic arithmetic processing. All findings were compiled with regard to the three assumptions of the triple-code model (TCM) of number processing. Thirty-seven eligible manuscripts were identified for review (33 with healthy participants and 4 with patients). Their results are broadly consistent with the first assumption of the TCM that intraparietal sulcus both hold a magnitude code and engage in operations requiring numerical manipulations such as subtraction. However, largely heterogeneous results conflicted with the second assumption of the TCM that the left angular gyrus subserves arithmetic fact retrieval, such as the retrieval of rote-learned multiplication results. Support is also limited for the third assumption of the TCM, namely, that the posterior superior parietal lobule engages in spatial operations on the mental number line. Furthermore, results from the stimulation of brain areas outside of those postulated by the TCM show that the bilateral supramarginal gyrus is involved in online calculation and retrieval, the left temporal cortex in retrieval, and the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cerebellum in online calculation of cognitively demanding arithmetic problems. The overall results indicate that multiple cortical areas subserve arithmetic skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Fresnoza
- Department of Psychology, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Anja Ischebeck
- Department of Psychology, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed, 8010 Graz, Austria
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Battisti A, Lazzaro G, Varuzza C, Vicari S, Menghini D. Effects of online tDCS and hf-tRNS on reading performance in children and adolescents with developmental dyslexia: a study protocol for a cross sectional, within-subject, randomized, double-blind, and sham-controlled trial. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1338430. [PMID: 38533416 PMCID: PMC10964771 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1338430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Developmental Dyslexia (DD) is a brain-based developmental disorder causing severe reading difficulties. The extensive data on the neurobiology of DD have increased interest in brain-directed approaches, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which have been proposed for DD. While positive outcomes have been observed, results remain heterogeneous. Various methodological approaches have been employed to address this issue. However, no studies have compared the effects of different transcranial electrical stimulation techniques (e.g., tDCS and transcranial random noise stimulation, tRNS), on reading in children and adolescents with DD. Methods The present within-subject, double-blind, and sham-controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of tDCS and hf-tRNS on reading in children and adolescents with DD. Participants will undergo three conditions with a one-week interval session: (A) single active tDCS session; (B) single active hf-tRNS session; and (C) single sham session (tDCS/hf-tRNS). Left anodal/right cathodal tDCS and bilateral tRNS will be applied over the temporo-parietal regions for 20 min each. Reading measures will be collected before and during each session. Safety and blinding parameters will be recordered. Discussion We hypothesize that tRNS will demonstrate comparable effectiveness to tDCS in improving reading compared to sham conditions. Additionally, we anticipate that hf-tRNS will exhibit a similar safety profile to tDCS. This study will contribute novel insights into the effectiveness of hf-tRNS, expediting the validation of brain-based treatments for DD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Battisti
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Lazzaro
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiana Varuzza
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Deny Menghini
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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3
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Transcranial high-frequency random noise stimulation does not modulate Nogo N2 and Go/Nogo reaction times in somatosensory and auditory modalities. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3014. [PMID: 36810889 PMCID: PMC9944265 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30261-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) of the primary sensory or motor cortex can improve sensorimotor functions by enhancing circuit excitability and processing fidelity. However, tRNS is reported to have little effect on higher brain functions, such as response inhibition when applied to associated supramodal regions. These discrepancies suggest differential effects of tRNS on the excitability of the primary and supramodal cortex, although this has not been directly demonstrated. This study examined the effects of tRNS on supramodal brain regions on somatosensory and auditory Go/Nogo task performance, a measure of inhibitory executive function, while simultaneously recording event-related potentials (ERPs). Sixteen participants received sham or tRNS stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in a single-blind crossover design study. Neither sham nor tRNS altered somatosensory and auditory Nogo N2 amplitudes, Go/Nogo reaction times, or commission error rates. The results suggest that current tRNS protocols are less effective at modulating neural activity in higher-order cortical regions than in the primary sensory and motor cortex. Further studies are required to identify tRNS protocols that effectively modulate the supramodal cortex for cognitive enhancement.
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Lazzaro G, Fucà E, Caciolo C, Battisti A, Costanzo F, Varuzza C, Vicari S, Menghini D. Understanding the Effects of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Numerical Cognition: A Systematic Review for Clinical Translation. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11082082. [PMID: 35456176 PMCID: PMC9032363 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11082082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Atypical development of numerical cognition (dyscalculia) may increase the onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms, especially when untreated, and it may have long-term detrimental social consequences. However, evidence-based treatments are still lacking. Despite plenty of studies investigating the effects of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) on numerical cognition, a systematized synthesis of results is still lacking. In the present systematic review (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021271139), we found that the majority of reports (20 out of 26) showed the effectiveness of tES in improving both number (80%) and arithmetic (76%) processing. In particular, anodal tDCS (regardless of lateralization) over parietal regions, bilateral tDCS (regardless of polarity/lateralization) over frontal regions, and tRNS (regardless of brain regions) strongly enhance number processing. While bilateral tDCS and tRNS over parietal and frontal regions and left anodal tDCS over frontal regions consistently improve arithmetic skills. In addition, tACS seems to be more effective than tDCS at ameliorating arithmetic learning. Despite the variability of methods and paucity of clinical studies, tES seems to be a promising brain-based treatment to enhance numerical cognition. Recommendations for clinical translation, future directions, and limitations are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Lazzaro
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (E.F.); (C.C.); (A.B.); (F.C.); (C.V.); (S.V.)
| | - Elisa Fucà
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (E.F.); (C.C.); (A.B.); (F.C.); (C.V.); (S.V.)
| | - Cristina Caciolo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (E.F.); (C.C.); (A.B.); (F.C.); (C.V.); (S.V.)
| | - Andrea Battisti
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (E.F.); (C.C.); (A.B.); (F.C.); (C.V.); (S.V.)
- Department of Human Science, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Costanzo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (E.F.); (C.C.); (A.B.); (F.C.); (C.V.); (S.V.)
| | - Cristiana Varuzza
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (E.F.); (C.C.); (A.B.); (F.C.); (C.V.); (S.V.)
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (E.F.); (C.C.); (A.B.); (F.C.); (C.V.); (S.V.)
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Centro di Riabilitazione Casa San Giuseppe, Opera Don Guanella, 00165 Rome, Italy
| | - Deny Menghini
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (E.F.); (C.C.); (A.B.); (F.C.); (C.V.); (S.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-066-859-7091
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Chenot Q, Hamery C, Lepron E, Besson P, De Boissezon X, Perrey S, Scannella S. Performance after training in a complex cognitive task is enhanced by high-definition transcranial random noise stimulation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4618. [PMID: 35301388 PMCID: PMC8931133 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08545-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest for neuromodulation, and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) in particular, is growing. It concerns patients rehabilitation, but also healthy people who want or need to improve their cognitive and learning abilities. However, there is no consensus yet regarding the efficacy of tRNS on learning and performing a complex task. In particular, the most effective electrode montage is yet to be determined. Here, we examined the effect of two different tRNS montages on learning rate, short- and long-term performance in a video game (Space Fortress) that engages multiple cognitive abilities. Sixty-one participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups (sham vs. simple-definition tRNS vs. high-definition tRNS) in a double-blind protocol. Their performance on the Space Fortress task was monitored during a 15-day experiment with baseline (day 1), stimulation (day 2 to 4), short- (day 5) and long-term (day 15) evaluations. Our results show that the high-definition tRNS group improved more on the long term than simple-definition tRNS group, tended to learn faster and had better performance retention compared to both simple-definition tRNS and sham groups. This study is the first to report that high-definition tRNS is more effective than conventional simple-definition tRNS to enhance performance in a complex task.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Pierre Besson
- EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France
| | - Xavier De Boissezon
- Toulouse Neuroimaging Center (ToNIC), Université de Toulouse, INSERM, Toulouse, France.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Stéphane Perrey
- EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France
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Lazzaro G, Battisti A, Varuzza C, Celestini L, Pani P, Costanzo F, Vicari S, Kadosh RC, Menghini D. Boosting Numerical Cognition in Children and Adolescents with Mathematical Learning Disabilities by a Brain-Based Intervention: A Study Protocol for a Randomized, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10969. [PMID: 34682715 PMCID: PMC8536003 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Numbers are everywhere, and supporting difficulties in numerical cognition (e.g., mathematical learning disability (MLD)) in a timely, effective manner is critical for their daily use. To date, only low-efficacy cognitive-based interventions are available. The extensive data on the neurobiology of MLD have increased interest in brain-directed approaches. The overarching goal of this study protocol is to provide the scientific foundation for devising brain-based and evidence-based treatments in children and adolescents with MLD. In this double-blind, between-subject, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trial, transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) plus cognitive training will be delivered to participants. Arithmetic, neuropsychological, psychological, and electrophysiological measures will be collected at baseline (T0), at the end of the interventions (T1), one week (T2) and three months later (T3). We expect that tRNS plus cognitive training will significantly improve arithmetic measures at T1 and at each follow-up (T2, T3) compared with placebo and that such improvements will correlate robustly and positively with changes in the neuropsychological, psychological, and electrophysiological measures. We firmly believe that this clinical trial will produce reliable and positive results to accelerate the validation of brain-based treatments for MLD that have the potential to impact quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Lazzaro
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (A.B.); (C.V.); (L.C.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
- Department of Human Science, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Battisti
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (A.B.); (C.V.); (L.C.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Cristiana Varuzza
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (A.B.); (C.V.); (L.C.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Laura Celestini
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (A.B.); (C.V.); (L.C.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Pierpaolo Pani
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Floriana Costanzo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (A.B.); (C.V.); (L.C.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (A.B.); (C.V.); (L.C.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Roi Cohen Kadosh
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, 30AD04 Elizabeth Fry Building, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK;
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, New Radcliffe House, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Deny Menghini
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (G.L.); (A.B.); (C.V.); (L.C.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
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7
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van Bueren NER, Reed TL, Nguyen V, Sheffield JG, van der Ven SHG, Osborne MA, Kroesbergen EH, Cohen Kadosh R. Personalized brain stimulation for effective neurointervention across participants. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008886. [PMID: 34499639 PMCID: PMC8454957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence from human-based research has highlighted that the prevalent one-size-fits-all approach for neural and behavioral interventions is inefficient. This approach can benefit one individual, but be ineffective or even detrimental for another. Studying the efficacy of the large range of different parameters for different individuals is costly, time-consuming and requires a large sample size that makes such research impractical and hinders effective interventions. Here an active machine learning technique is presented across participants-personalized Bayesian optimization (pBO)-that searches available parameter combinations to optimize an intervention as a function of an individual's ability. This novel technique was utilized to identify transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) frequency and current strength combinations most likely to improve arithmetic performance, based on a subject's baseline arithmetic abilities. The pBO was performed across all subjects tested, building a model of subject performance, capable of recommending parameters for future subjects based on their baseline arithmetic ability. pBO successfully searches, learns, and recommends parameters for an effective neurointervention as supported by behavioral, simulation, and neural data. The application of pBO in human-based research opens up new avenues for personalized and more effective interventions, as well as discoveries of protocols for treatment and translation to other clinical and non-clinical domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke E. R. van Bueren
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas L. Reed
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Vu Nguyen
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Amazon, Adelaide, Australia
| | - James G. Sheffield
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Michael A. Osborne
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Evelyn H. Kroesbergen
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Roi Cohen Kadosh
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
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8
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Farhat LC, Carvalho AF, Solmi M, Brunoni AR. Evidence-based Umbrella Review of Cognitive Effects of Prefrontal tDCS. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 17:43-60. [PMID: 32577732 PMCID: PMC8866814 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, which has been increasingly used as an investigational tool in neuroscience. In social and affective neuroscience research, the prefrontal cortex has been primarily targeted, since this brain region is critically involved in complex psychobiological processes subserving both Șhotș and Școldș domains. Although several studies have suggested that prefrontal tDCS can enhance neuropsychological outcomes, meta-analyses have reported conflicting results. Therefore, we aimed to assess the available evidence by performing an umbrella review of meta-analyses. We evaluated the effects of prefrontal active vs sham tDCS on different domains of cognition among healthy and neuropsychiatric individuals. A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 was employed to evaluate the quality of meta-analyses, and the GRADE system was employed to grade the quality of evidence of every comparison from each meta-analysis. PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched, and 11 meta-analyses were included resulting in 55 comparisons. Only 16 comparisons reported significant effects favoring tDCS, but 13 of them had either very low or low quality of evidence. Of the remaining 39 comparisons which reported non-significant effects, 38 had either very low or low quality of evidence. Meta-analyses were rated as having critically low and low quality. Among several reasons to explain these findings, the lack of consensus and reproducibility in tDCS research is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis C Farhat
- Departamento de Psiquiatria da Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andre F Carvalho
- Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,IMPACT Strategic Research Centre (Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Treatment), Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia
| | - Marco Solmi
- Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Andre R Brunoni
- Departamento de Psiquiatria da Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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9
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Peña J, Sampedro A, Ibarretxe-Bilbao N, Zubiaurre-Elorza L, Ojeda N. Improvement in creativity after transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7116. [PMID: 31068654 PMCID: PMC6506544 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43626-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Creativity has previously been shown to improve after the application of direct and alternating current transcranial stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, previous studies have not tested whether transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) was efficient for this purpose. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to investigate the effect of tRNS on both verbal convergent and (verbal and visual) divergent thinking during left DLPFC tRNS stimulation. Thirty healthy participants were randomly allocated to either a tRNS active group or a sham group. Each session lasted 20 min and the current was set to 1.5 mA (100-500 Hz). Participants' verbal convergent thinking was assessed with the Remote Associates Test (RAT). Verbal and visual divergent thinking were respectively measured by using the Unusual Uses and Picture Completion subtests from the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Bootstrapped analysis of variance showed significant differences in the mean change scores between the active tRNS group and the sham group in RAT scores (d = 1.68); unusual uses: fluency (d = 2.29) and originality (d = 1.43); and general creativity (d = 1.45). Visual divergent thinking, in contrast, did not show any significant improvement. Our results suggested that tRNS over the left DLPFC is effective for increasing verbal divergent and convergent thinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Peña
- Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
| | - Agurne Sampedro
- Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Naroa Ibarretxe-Bilbao
- Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Leire Zubiaurre-Elorza
- Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Natalia Ojeda
- Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
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