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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
Revised and Neuroimaging-Compatible Versions of the Dual Task Screen
Published on: October 5, 2020
Concomitant dual-site tDCS and dark chocolate improve cognitive and endurance performance following cognitive effort
Parisa Banaei1, Vahid Tadibi2, Ehsan Amiri1
1Exercise Metabolism and Performance Lab (EMPL), Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Razi University, University Avenue, Taq-e Bostan, Kermanshah, 6714414971, Iran.
Abstract:
Ten male cyclists were randomized into four experimental conditions in this randomized, cross-over, double-blind, and sham-controlled study to test the combined effect of acute dark chocolate (DC) ingestion and anodal concurrent dual-site transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) targeting M1 and left DLPFC on cognitive and whole-body endurance performance in hypoxia after performing a cognitive task. Two hours before the sessions, chocolate was consumed. After arriving at the lab, participants completed an incongruent Stroop task for 30 min in hypoxia (O2 = 13%) to induce mental fatigue, followed by 20 min of tDCS (2 mA) in hypoxia. Then, in hypoxia, they performed a time-to-exhaustion task (TTE) while measuring physiological and psychophysiological responses. Cognitive performance was measured at baseline, after the Stroop task, and during and after TTE. TTE in 'DC + a-tDCS' was significantly longer than in 'white chocolate (WC) + a-tDCS' and WC + sham-tDCS'. The vastus medialis muscle electromyography amplitude was significantly higher in 'DC + a-tDCS' and 'DC + sham-tDCS' than in 'WC + sh-tDCS'. During and after the TTE, choice reaction time was significantly lower in 'DC + a-tDCS' compared to 'WC + sh-tDCS'. Other physiological or psychophysiological variables showed no significant differences. The concurrent use of acute DC consumption and dual-site a-tDCS might improve cognitive and endurance performance in hypoxia.
