Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 10, 2025
08:26
Non-Invasive Modulation and Robotic Mapping of Motor Cortex in the Developing Brain
Published on: July 1, 2019
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Generalized learning induced by training and tDCS is predicted by prefrontal cortical morphology
Shane E Ehrhardt1, Yohan Wards1, Thomas B Shaw2,3
1School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, McElwain Building, Campbell Road, St Lucia, 4072, QLD, Australia.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|August 20, 2025
Summary
Combining brain stimulation with cognitive training improves executive function. Individual brain anatomy, specifically cortical thickness, predicts how effective this intervention is for enhancing task performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Brain stimulation, particularly transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is a promising intervention for enhancing executive functions.
- Optimizing tDCS efficacy requires understanding the influence of individual differences, such as cortical morphology, on intervention outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the combined effects of multi-session multitasking training and prefrontal tDCS on the generalization of performance benefits.
- To determine how individual cortical morphology predicts improvements in cognitive performance following combined tDCS and cognitive training.
Main Methods:
- 178 participants completed 7 Tesla MRI scans.
- Participants underwent multisession multitasking training with online prefrontal tDCS (1 mA or sham).
- Cognitive task batteries assessed performance on trained and untrained tasks before and after intervention.
Main Results:
- 1 mA tDCS applied to the left or right prefrontal cortex during multitasking training enhanced transfer to a visual search task.
- Cortical thickness in regions beneath the anode predicted reaction time improvements in a challenging visual search task for the 1 mA tDCS groups.
- No relationship between cortical thickness and performance was observed in sham stimulation or control training groups.
Conclusions:
- Individual anatomical differences, specifically cortical thickness, significantly modulate the efficacy of tDCS when combined with cognitive training.
- Neuroanatomical features can predict generalized performance gains, highlighting the importance of personalized approaches in brain stimulation interventions.
Keywords:
cognitive trainingcortical thicknessdecision-makingdosetDCStransferultra-high field MRIvisual searchMore Related Videos
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