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Updated: May 9, 2026
Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum
Published on: February 15, 2015
Transcranial direct-current stimulation reduced the excitability of diaphragmatic corticospinal pathways whatever the
Eric Azabou1, Nicolas Roche, Tarek Sharshar
1Department of Physiology, Raymond Poincaré Hospital (AP-HP), Garches, Paris, France; Department of Critical Care Medicine, Raymond Poincaré Hospital (AP-HP), Garches, Paris, France; EA 4497 Group for Clinical and Technical Research on Disability, INSERM CIC-IT 805, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines, Versailles, France.
Abstract:
We investigated effects of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) on the diaphragmatic corticospinal pathways in healthy human. Anodal, cathodal, and sham tDCS were randomly applied upon the left diaphragmatic motor cortex in twelve healthy right-handed men. Corticospinal pathways excitability was assessed by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) elicited motor-evoked-potential (MEP). For each tDCS condition, MEPs were recorded before (Pre) tDCS then after 10 min (Post1, at tDCS discontinuation in the anodal and cathodal sessions) and 20 min (Post2). As result, both anodal and cathodal tDCS significantly decreased MEP amplitude of the right hemidiaphragm at both Post1 and Post2, versus Pre. MEP amplitude was unchanged versus Pre during the sham condition. The effects of cathodal and anodal tDCS applied to the diaphragm motor cortex differ from those observed during tDCS of the limb motor cortex. These differences may be related to specific characteristics of the diaphragmatic corticospinal pathways as well as to the diaphragm's functional peculiarities compared with the limb muscles.
