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Updated: Sep 14, 2025
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Mice
Published on: September 23, 2018
Increased Neuroplasticity in Frontal Cortex to Reduce Compulsive Behavior: A Preclinical tDCS Study in Male Rats
Manuela Olmedo-Córdoba1, Angeles Prados-Pardo1, Elena Martín-González2,3
1Department of Psychology, Clinical and Experimental, Neuroscience Research Group CTS280 and CIBIS (Centro de Investigación Para El Bienestar y La Inclusión Social) Research Center, University of Almería, Ctra. Sacramento, S/N, 04120, Almería, Spain.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) did not reduce compulsive behavior in rats. However, tDCS increased neuroplasticity markers in the frontal cortex, suggesting potential for neuromodulation despite no immediate behavioral change.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Compulsive behavior is a transdiagnostic symptom in neuropsychiatric disorders like OCD and addiction.
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a proposed therapeutic strategy for compulsive behavior, but its mechanisms are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if anodal tDCS reduces compulsivity via neuroplasticity mechanisms.
- To assess changes in neuroplasticity markers in the frontal cortex and amygdala following tDCS treatment in rats exhibiting compulsive behavior.
Main Methods:
- Male Wistar rats selected for high compulsive drinking (schedule-induced polydipsia) received daily anodal tDCS (0.5 mA) over the frontal cortex for 8 days.
- A sham stimulation group was used for comparison.
- RT-qPCR analysis was performed to measure neuroplasticity markers (Htr2a, Grin1, Bdnf, Ngf, Scn2a) in the frontal cortex and amygdala.
Main Results:
- tDCS treatment did not significantly reduce compulsive behavior in the schedule-induced polydipsia model.
- tDCS significantly increased the expression of neuroplasticity markers (Htr2a, Grin1, Bdnf, Ngf, Scn2a) in the frontal cortex.
- No significant changes in neuroplasticity markers were observed in the amygdala.
Conclusions:
- tDCS may induce neuromodulation in the frontal cortex by upregulating neuroplasticity gene expression, even without immediate behavioral effects on compulsivity.
- Future neuromodulation strategies targeting the amygdala may hold greater potential for reducing compulsive behaviors.
