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Updated: May 14, 2025
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Simultaneous EEG Monitoring During Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Published on: June 17, 2013
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Asymmetric Modulation of Brain Connectivity by Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Healthy Individuals:
Tiffany Carther-Krone1,2, Zachary A McAllister1,2, Eun Hyung Choi1,2
1Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Human Brain Mapping
|May 2, 2025
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) enhanced brain connectivity and improved cognitive inhibition. This study suggests hemispheric differences in tDCS neurophysiological effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) exhibits asymmetric behavioral outcomes.
- The precise neurophysiological mechanisms driving these asymmetric effects remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurophysiological and behavioral effects of left versus right DLPFC tDCS.
- To explore the impact of tDCS on intrinsic brain connectivity and cognitive performance.
Main Methods:
- A preliminary study involving 34 healthy participants receiving tDCS on the left DLPFC, right DLPFC, or sham.
- Behavioral assessments using the Stroop test and neurophysiological changes via resting-state fMRI before and after a 15-min tDCS session.
- Voxel-to-voxel whole-brain intrinsic connectivity (IC) analysis was employed.
Main Results:
- Voxel-to-voxel IC analysis revealed significant stimulation site × time interaction effects in the right DLPFC.
- Right DLPFC stimulation uniquely increased intrinsic connectivity from pre- to post-stimulation.
- Right DLPFC stimulation improved Stroop task performance, indicated by an increased interference score.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest hemispheric differences in tDCS effects on DLPFC intrinsic connectivity and cognitive inhibition.
- Right DLPFC stimulation appears to enhance the inhibition of irrelevant information.
- Further research with larger cohorts is needed to confirm these preliminary findings and improve generalizability.
