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Optimizing cognitive control through the interaction between stimulation intensity and duration in single-site and
Xuedi Liu1, Tingting Guo1, Qianwen Chang1
1State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, P.R. China.
Scientific Reports
|October 15, 2025
Summary
Investigating transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) dosage, this study found that while traditional measures showed no effect, the drift diffusion model revealed that longer tDCS durations mitigate negative impacts on cognitive control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique used to modulate cortical excitability.
- Understanding the optimal parameters for tDCS, such as intensity and duration, is crucial for its effective application in cognitive enhancement.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding the impact of tDCS dosage on cognitive performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between tDCS dosage (intensity and duration) and its effects on cognitive control.
- To compare the impact of single-site versus dual-site tDCS on cognitive processes.
- To evaluate behavioral performance using both traditional reaction time measures and the drift diffusion model (DDM).
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Applied two stimulation intensities (1 mA or 1.5 mA) during a Flanker task.
- Experiment 2: Manipulated two different stimulation durations during the same cognitive task.
- Analyzed behavioral data using traditional reaction time measures and the drift diffusion model (DDM).
Main Results:
- Conventional reaction time analyses showed no significant effects of tDCS intensity or duration on cognitive control.
- DDM analyses indicated that the detrimental effects of high-intensity tDCS diminished with increased stimulation duration.
- High-intensity single-site tDCS prolonged non-decision time, while dual-site tDCS prolonged non-decision time and slowed evidence accumulation (reduced drift rate).
Conclusions:
- The temporal dynamics of tDCS application significantly influence its effects on cognitive control.
- DDM provides a more sensitive approach than traditional measures for detecting subtle effects of tDCS dosage.
- Optimizing tDCS parameters, particularly duration, is essential for effectively enhancing cognitive control and understanding underlying neural mechanisms.
