Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
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Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
Published on: June 6, 2025
Predicting behavioural response to TDCS in chronic motor stroke
Jacinta O'Shea1, Marie-Hélène Boudrias, Charlotte Jane Stagg
1Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
Neuroimage
|June 4, 2013
Summary
Bilateral transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) did not improve motor function in stroke patients. Anodal or Cathodal TDCS showed benefits, with GABA levels and time since stroke predicting patient response.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) offers temporary improvements in paretic hand function post-stroke.
- Variability in patient response necessitates strategies to enhance efficacy and predict outcomes for TDCS interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of bilateral M1-M1 TDCS compared to unilateral Anodal or Cathodal TDCS in improving motor function in chronic stroke patients.
- To identify clinical and neurochemical predictors of behavioral response to different TDCS montages.
Main Methods:
- Tested the physiological effects of Bilateral, Anodal, and Cathodal TDCS on motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in healthy individuals.
- Assessed the behavioral efficacy of these TDCS protocols on reaction times in the paretic hand of chronic stroke patients.
- Correlated clinical (e.g., Fugl-Meyer score, time since stroke) and neurochemical (e.g., GABA levels) data with behavioral outcomes.
Main Results:
- Bilateral M1-M1 TDCS showed no significant effect on MEPs or reaction time, unlike Anodal and Cathodal TDCS.
- GABA levels in the ipsilesional M1 predicted behavioral gains from Anodal TDCS.
- Time since stroke and Fugl-Meyer score predicted behavioral gains from Cathodal TDCS in chronic stroke patients.
Conclusions:
- Anodal or Cathodal TDCS are superior to Bilateral M1-M1 TDCS for enhancing motor cortico-spinal excitability and improving reaction time in chronic stroke.
- Identified predictors (GABA, time since stroke, Fugl-Meyer score) can guide optimized TDCS delivery and predict outcomes in future stroke rehabilitation studies.
