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Updated: Feb 10, 2026
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Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum
Published on: February 15, 2015
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Individual differences in learning correlate with modulation of brain activity induced by transcranial direct current
Brian Falcone1, Atsushi Wada2, Raja Parasuraman1
1Center of Excellence in Neuroergonomics, Technology, and Cognition (CENTEC), George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America.
Plos One
|May 22, 2018
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve cognitive tasks. This study links individual brain activity changes from tDCS to performance improvements, explaining inconsistent tDCS results.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is explored for cognitive enhancement.
- Reliability and efficacy of tDCS in modulating brain activity are debated.
- Individual differences in tDCS effects require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate individual differences in tDCS-induced brain activity modulation.
- Correlate these modulatory effects with performance enhancement in a visual search task.
- Provide insights into the variability of tDCS efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and tDCS (1 mA, 30 min).
- Visual search task with three fMRI sessions: pre-training, training (with feedback), and post-training.
- Anodal tDCS targeted the right posterior parietal cortex.
Main Results:
- A region in the right precentral gyrus showed tDCS-induced cortical excitability changes linked to performance improvements.
- This region exhibited greater activity for incorrect trial feedback in the tDCS group, suggesting enhanced attention to target features.
- Identified neural correlates of individual differences in tDCS-induced performance gains.
Conclusions:
- tDCS can induce task-related cortical excitability changes.
- Individual differences in these changes are associated with performance variability.
- Findings offer insights into the mechanisms underlying tDCS efficacy and reliability.
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