Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026
06:01
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Online Gamers
Published on: November 9, 2019
8.5K
Pre-stimulus Brain Activity Is Associated With State-Anxiety Changes During Single-Session Transcranial Direct
Keiichiro Nishida1, Yosuke Koshikawa1, Yosuke Morishima2
1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|August 24, 2019
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows immediate anxiety reduction in depression patients, linked to baseline brain activity. Response varies by stimulation site and patient
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulation technique with potential for treating depression.
- Limited patient response rates and unclear neurophysiological mechanisms hinder tDCS efficacy.
- Understanding immediate tDCS effects and their relation to pre-stimulus brain activity is crucial for identifying predictors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immediate impact of single-session anodal tDCS on anxiety in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HCs).
- To explore the association between pre-tDCS resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) activity and anxiety reduction following tDCS.
- To determine if stimulation site (left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [DLPFC] vs. dorsomedial prefrontal cortex [DMPFC]) influences the relationship between brain activity and tDCS response.
Main Methods:
- Anodal tDCS was applied to the left DLPFC or DMPFC (1.0 mA, 20 min) in 14 MDD patients and 19 HCs.
- State-trait anxiety was assessed before and after tDCS.
- Resting-state EEG was recorded pre-tDCS, and theta and alpha band activity was analyzed using low-resolution electromagnetic tomography.
Main Results:
- In MDD patients, left DLPFC tDCS-induced anxiety reduction correlated with higher baseline theta activity in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) and absence of benzodiazepine use.
- DMPFC tDCS in MDD patients showed anxiety reduction linked to lower baseline alpha activity in the left inferior parietal lobule.
- In HCs, DMPFC tDCS-induced anxiety reduction was associated with higher baseline alpha activity in the precuneus.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between pre-tDCS brain activity and anxiety reduction is dependent on psychopathology (MDD vs. HCs) and stimulation site (DLPFC vs. DMPFC).
- Baseline electrophysiological activity, specifically in theta and alpha bands, may predict tDCS response in anxiety reduction.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying tDCS efficacy and personalize treatment strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Anxiety: Overview
950
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
950
02:01pre-mRNA Processing
57.2K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
57.2K
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
651
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
651
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
458
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
458
01:35Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends
14.0K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
14.0K
01:10Electrical Current
6.8K
Electrical current is defined as the rate at which charge flows. When there is a large current present, such as that used to run a refrigerator, a large amount of charge moves through the wire in a small amount of time. If the current is small, such as that used to operate a handheld calculator, a small amount of charge moves through the circuit over a long period of time. The SI unit for current is the ampere (A), named for the French physicist André-Marie Ampère (1775–1836).
6.8K