Modulation of prefrontal cortex with anodal tDCS prevents post-exercise facilitation interference during dual task

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) reflect corticospinal excitability.
• Dual tasks (DT) can interfere with motor processes.
• Post-exercise facilitation (PEF) is a measure of neuroplasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) mitigates DT interference on PEF.
• To explore the effects of anodal tDCS on attentional resource allocation and brain adaptation.

Main Methods:

• Participants underwent non-fatiguing isometric contractions.
• Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured.
• Dual task (DT) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) protocols were applied over the left DLPFC.

Main Results:

• Anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC reversed the interference effect of the DT on PEF.
• This indicates improved ability to manage competing cognitive and motor demands.

Conclusions:

• Anodal left DLPFC tDCS enhances the ability to allocate attentional resources.
• tDCS modulates plastic adaptations across different brain systems, impacting motor control and cognitive function.