Possibilities of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) use in elite sport

Transcranial direct current stimulation has proven to be the method that can modulate neural activity in various cases. As this method has been shown to be effective in improving muscular strength, reaction time and accuracy, motor learning, it seems to be promising in elite sports.This paper provides an overview of studies on tDCS and its impact on central nervous system functioning, with an emphasis on potential sports utility. This review demonstrates that the basic mechanism of the effect of tDCS on nervous system functioning is its ability to modulate the excitability of neurons.tDCS is able to influence various components of electrocortical potentials, the amplitude of the motor evoked potential, as well as the mechanisms of long-term potentiation and, as a consequence, the cellular mechanisms of motor learning and neuroplasticity in general. The beneficial effect of tDCS on attention selectivity and signal detection has been noted. It is also shown that tDCS can accelerate learning and enhance performance in a range of complex cognitive tasks.In addition, a number of studies showing that tDCS can increase the efficiency of performing arithmetic and problem solving tasks are considered.In the context of sports, the influence of tDCS over motor areas on motor learning and on the accuracy of voluntary movements seems to be important. Its ability to influence speed and strength indicators, namely, the maximum isometric force of various muscle groups and explosive strength, as well as endurance indicators seems promising, too. The review also shows that tDCS is reasonably safe and that serious adverse effects are extremely rare; the most common adverse effect is local skin irritation due to poor electrode placement.

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Non-linear effects of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex on implicit motor learning

Experimental Brain Research ◽

10.1007/s00221-019-05477-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 237 (4) ◽

pp. 919-925 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gali Shilo ◽

Michal Lavidor

Keyword(s):

Motor Cortex ◽

Motor Learning ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Implicit Motor Learning ◽

Non Linear ◽

Implicit Motor ◽

Linear Effects

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Abstract TP145: Anodal 2mA Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over Affected Parietal-Insular-vestibular Cortex Shows No Effect on Lateropulsion Following Strokei

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.tp145 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Suzanne Babyar ◽

Taiza Santos-Pontelli ◽

Tenysson Will-Lemos ◽

Suleimy Mazin ◽

Dylan Edwards ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Active Control ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Lateral Displacement ◽

Electrode Placement ◽

Vestibular Cortex ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Seated Posture

Objective: To assess the effects of 2mA transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) over the affected Parietal-Insular-Vestibular Cortex (PIVC) on seated posture of patients with lateropulsion following stroke. We hypothesized that bilateral electrode placement over PIVC (vs active control) would produce a change in seated posture. Background: Lateropulsion following stroke (Pusher Syndrome) is characterized by lateral displacement of subjective postural vertical toward the weak side. It is caused by lesions affecting vestibular projections to the Ventral Lateral Thalamus (VLT) or projections from the VLT to the Parietal-Insular-Vestibular Cortex (PIVC). Methods: Seventeen subjects with Burke Lateropulsion Scale scores ≥ 2 within 30 days of an ischemic stroke signed an IRB-approved consent. They received 2mA tDCS delivered using 25cm 2 saline soaked sponge electrodes via one of two montages: Test (anode over the affected PIVC and cathode opposite PIVC) versus Active Control (anode over the affected PIVC and cathode over the opposite supra-orbital region). PIVC was defined using EEG 10/20 coordinates. Seated medial-lateral center of pressure (COP-X) was measured using a custom-designed chair mounted on an AMTI™ analog-to-digital forceplate. An inclinometer strapped to the chest and aligned with the sternum measured lateral trunk tilt. Data were collected prior to, then at 5, 10, and 15 minutes during tDCS and 5 min following tDCS. Results: Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance rejected the hypothesis of an interaction between Montage and Time for: mean COP-X displacement (in) (Wilks’ λ F = 0.647 df =(4, 13), P = 0.639); mean speed of COP-X (in/s) (Wilks’ λ F = 0.740 df =(4, 13), P =0.581); mean inclinometer tilt (degrees) (Wilks’ λ F = 0.740 df =(4, 13), P =0.581). Conclusion: Neither tDCS montage showed improvement in COP-X displacement, COP-X movement velocity or inclinometer readings. These negative results are important to encourage the development of alternative tDCS stimulation parameters or identification of alternative cortical or vestibular tDCS targets for the treatment of Lateropulsion Following Stroke.

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Effects of High-Definition and Conventional Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation on Motor Learning in Children

Frontiers in Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnins.2018.00787 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Lauran Cole ◽

Adrianna Giuffre ◽

Patrick Ciechanski ◽

Helen L. Carlson ◽

Ephrem Zewdie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Motor Learning ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

High Definition ◽

Direct Current Stimulation

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P-1372 - Modulation of the autonomic nervous system by transcranial direct current stimulation: preliminary results of a pilot study with relevance to resilience to stress science

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(12)75539-6 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S.N. Jesus ◽

E.M. Goncalves

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Autonomic Nervous System ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Preliminary Results ◽

Autonomic Nervous ◽

Direct Current Stimulation

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The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on objective and subjective indexes of exercise performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

10.31236/osf.io/e2buc ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Darias Holgado ◽

Miguel A. Vadillo ◽

Daniel Sanabria

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Direct Current ◽

Exercise Performance ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Effect Sizes ◽

Electrode Placement ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Time To Exhaustion ◽

Direct Current Stimulation

Objective: To examine the effectss of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on objective and subjective indexes of exercise performance.Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Data Sources: A systematic literature search of electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar) and reference lists of included articles up to June 2018.Eligibility Criteria: Published articles in journals or in repositories with raw data available, randomized sham-controlled trial comparing anodal stimulation with a sham condition providing data on objective (e.g. time to exhaustion or time-trial performance) or subjective (e.g. rate of perceived exertion) indexes of exercise performance.Results: The initial search provided 420 articles of which 31 were assessed for eligibility. Finally, the analysis of effect sizes comprised 24 studies with 386 participants. The analysis indicated that anodal tDCS had a small but positive effect on performance g = 0.34, 95% CI [0.12, 0.52], z = 3.24, p = 0.0012. Effects were not significantly moderated by type of outcome, electrode placement, muscles involved, number of sessions, or intensity and duration of the stimulation. Importantly, the funnel plot showed that, overall, effect sizes tended to be larger in studies with lower sample size and high standard error. Summary: The results suggest that tDCS may have a positive impact on exercise performance. However, the effect is probably small and most likely biased by low quality studies and the selective publication of significant results. Therefore, the current evidence does not provide strong support to the conclusion that tDCS is an effective means to improve exercise performance.

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