Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2025
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Simultaneous Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: April 27, 2014
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhances cognitive function in schizophrenia: A randomized
Lorena García-Fernández1, Verónica Romero-Ferreiro2, Sergio Padilla3
1Clinical Medicine Department, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Investigador. Cibersam isciii, Crta. Nacional 332 s/n, Alicante 03550, Spain; Psychiatry Department, Hospital Universitario de San Juan, Alicante, Spain; CIBERSAM-ISCIII (Biomedical Research Networking Centre for Mental Health), Spain.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) significantly improved working memory and neurocognition in schizophrenia patients. More patients receiving active tDCS reported cognitive benefits compared to sham stimulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Schizophrenia is associated with significant cognitive deficits.
- Existing treatments offer limited cognitive improvement.
- Non-invasive brain stimulation presents a potential therapeutic avenue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cognitive effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in schizophrenia.
- To assess subjective cognitive improvement in patients receiving tDCS.
- To compare active tDCS with sham stimulation.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 173 schizophrenia outpatients.
- Application of active or sham tDCS using a bifrontal montage over 10 sessions.
- Assessment of cognitive function using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and subjective improvement scales.
Main Results:
- Active tDCS showed significant improvements in Working Memory (p < .001) and Neurocognition (p = .007) compared to sham.
- A significantly higher proportion of patients receiving active tDCS (68.6%) reported cognitive improvement versus sham (31.4%).
- A significant association was found between subjective improvement and the treatment group (p = .005).
Conclusions:
- Transcranial direct current stimulation is effective in enhancing cognitive function in schizophrenia.
- tDCS can lead to a satisfactory perception of cognitive improvement in patients.
- This non-invasive technique offers a promising adjunctive treatment for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
