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Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation increases corticospinal excitability, while performance is unchanged
Mathias Kristiansen1, Mikkel Jacobi Thomsen1, Jens Nørgaard1
1Department of Health Science and Technology, Sport Sciences-Performance and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Plos One
|July 16, 2021
Summary
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) did not improve cycling performance in a 250-kJ time trial, despite increasing corticospinal excitability. This suggests a-tDCS may not enhance self-paced endurance exercise performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) has shown potential in improving exercise performance and reducing perceived exertion.
- Previous studies indicate a-tDCS may enhance time to fatigue (TTF) at high intensities (70-80% VO2max).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a-tDCS on cycling performance during a 250-kJ time trial (TT) and an RPE-clamp test.
- To assess the impact of a-tDCS on corticospinal excitability through motor evoked potentials (MEPs).
Main Methods:
- Twenty participants completed three conditions: control, sham stimulation, and a-tDCS (2 mA, 13 min, anode over Cz).
- Performance was assessed via a 250-kJ cycling TT and a 5-minute RPE-clamp test (RPE 13).
- Corticospinal excitability was measured using motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in 12 participants pre- and post-stimulation.
Main Results:
- a-tDCS significantly increased MEPs by 36% post-intervention (p=0.037), indicating enhanced corticospinal excitability.
- No significant improvements were observed in power output, heart rate, oxygen consumption, or RPE during the RPE-clamp or TT.
- MEP increases were greater with a-tDCS compared to sham stimulation (8.8%).
Conclusions:
- a-tDCS applied over the Cz area does not enhance self-paced cycling performance in a 250-kJ time trial.
- The lack of performance improvement may be attributed to afferent feedback influencing RPE more significantly during time trials than during time-to-fatigue tasks.
