ABSTRACT
Sports fatigue of the lower limbs is one of the important factors affecting sports performance. How to improve the anti-fatigue ability of the lower limbs during endurance exercise is the focus of the research field of human sports biomechanics. This study systematically reviewed the relevant literature on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) intervention on lower limb endurance performance, summarized the effect of tDCS on lower limb endurance performance, and analyzed the influencing factors and potential mechanisms. The results showed that: tDCS intervention has a significant effect on the endurance performance of the whole lower limbs, but there is no unified conclusion on the effect on the endurance performance of the knee joint. The researchers deem that tDCS can increase the excitability of the primary motor cortex and reduce the activation of the supplementary motor area and the premotor area to producing a lower rating of perceived exertion, but cannot affect the perception of exercise-induced pain, and stimulation protocols varied across studies, which may be partly responsible. This study can provide a theoretical basis for exploring the central mechanism of tDCS to improve endurance performance, formulating rehabilitation and sports training programsfor different groups of people, and developing new stimulation equipment to enhance the human body’s anti fatigue ability.
ABSTRACT
Accidents or diseases may cause impairment or even loss of human motor function, among which stroke is a disease which is most likely to cause disability and seriously endangers social health. During recent years, as a new nerve regulation technology, non-invasive brain stimulation technology can achieve the application of nerve stimulation to the brain, induce and promote neuroplasticity and improve the excitability of cerebral cortex. Especially, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) have shown high therapeutic potential in motor rehabilitation. This paper summarizes the mechanism and progress of the research and application of tDCS and TMS in the field of neurorehabilitation. Its technical challenges and future development trends are provided as well.
Subject(s)
Humans , Brain , Stroke , Stroke Rehabilitation , Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation , Transcranial Magnetic StimulationABSTRACT
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising non-invasive physical stimulation for the treatment of unipolar and bipolar disorders. Its mechanism, efficacy and optimal parameters are still in the exploration stage. Based on the tDCS-related researches of unipolar and bipolar disorders in recent years, this paper reviews the efficacy and safety of tDCS treatment in depressive acute stage and maintenance stage, and demonstrates the efficacy of tDCS on treatment-resistant depressive disorder patients, which provides possible ideas for follow-up research and clinical application.
ABSTRACT
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques,including transcranial direct current stimula-tion (TDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS),are safe and non-invasive techniques,which can change the local excitability of the brain. The application of these techniques in the field of psychology,espe-cially decision making,has developed rapidly. These techniques provide the researchers a new perspective to study how people make decisions and to explore the neural mechanisms behind decision-making behaviors. This paper reviews the studies of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in the field of different decision-making behaviors (risky choice,intertemporal choice and social decision-making) and the problems existing in the current studies,and puts forward some possible solutions.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect and safety of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) in primary chronic insomnia. METHODS: A one-month, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial was performed. A total of 7 patients with primary chronic insomnia received tDCS using anodal (n=3), cathodal (n=2), or sham stimulation (n=2). They were followed up at 1 week and 1 month after treatment. The primary outcome measures included improvement in total sleep time (TST), sleep latency (SL), and sleep efficiency (SE) at 1 month follow-up. RESULTS: TST and SE were improved with tDCS at 1 month follow-up in all patients (100%) of the anodal group, one (50%) of the cathodal group, and one (50%) of the sham group. tDCS improved SL at 1 month follow-up in two patients (67%) of the anodal group, one (50%) of the cathodal group, and none (0%) of the sham group. With respect to adverse events, transient itching sensation occurred in one patient of the anodal group. None of the other groups reported adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that tDCS may be effective and safe for treatment of primary chronic insomnia. A larger controlled study needs to be further investigated.
Subject(s)
Humans , Follow-Up Studies , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Pruritus , Sensation , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Transcranial Direct Current StimulationABSTRACT
Abstract Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that modulates cortical excitability. It is devoid of serious adverse events and exerts variable effects on cognition, with several research findings suggesting that it can improve memory, verbal and mathematical skills. Because tDCS devices are low-cost, portable and relatively easy to assemble, they have become available outside of the medical setting and used for non-medical ("cosmetic") purposes by laypersons. In this sense, tDCS has become a popular technique aiming to improve cognition and the achievement of a better performance not only at work, but also in other fields such as sports, leisure activities (video games) and even the military. In spite of these unforeseen developments, there has been a general paralysis of the medical and regulatory agencies to develop guidelines for the use of tDCS for cosmetic purposes. Several challenges are present, most importantly, how to restrict tDCS use outside of the medical setting in face of variable and sometimes conflicting results from scientific research. This article aims to describe the popular use of tDCS, in light of the pillars of neuroethics, a branch of bioethics relative to brain research. Between two possible but extreme solutions - total release or total restriction of tDCS - it is paramount to develop a spectrum of alternatives, which may vary over time and in different cultural backgrounds.
Resumo A estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua (ETCC) é uma técnica não invasiva de estimulação cerebral que modula a excitabilidade cortical. A ETCC é desprovida de efeitos adversos graves e exerce efeitos variáveis sobre a cognição, com vários achados de pesquisa sugerindo que a técnica pode promover melhora nas habilidades mnêmica, verbal e matemática. Devido ao seu baixo custo, portabilidade e facilidade de montagem, os aparelhos de ETCC tornaram-se disponíveis fora do contexto médico, sendo usados para fins não médicos ("cosméticos") por indivíduos leigos. Nesse sentido, a ETCC tornou-se um procedimento popular para aprimoramento da cognição e a realização de melhor desempenho não somente no ambiente de trabalho, mas também em campos tais como o esporte, atividades de lazer ( video games ) e até no meio militar. Apesar desses acontecimentos imprevisíveis, há uma certa morosidade das agências médicas e regulatórias em desenvolver diretrizes para o uso de ETCC para fins cosméticos. Há muitos desafios presentes, principalmente, como restringir o uso da ETCC fora do contexto médico em face de resultados variáveis, e muitas vezes conflitantes, da pesquisa científica sobre o tema. Este artigo tem como objetivo descrever o uso popular da ETCC sob a luz da neuroética, um ramo da bioética que se dedica ao estudo do cérebro. Entre duas situações possíveis, mas extremas - liberação ou restrição totais da ETCC -, é primordial o desenvolvimento de um espectro de alternativas, que podem variar ao longo do tempo e depender de diversos contextos culturais.
Subject(s)
Humans , Brain/physiology , Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation/adverse effects , Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation/instrumentation , Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation/methods , Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation/ethics , Mental Processes/physiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of simultaneous, bihemispheric, dual-mode stimulation using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on motor functions and cortical excitability in healthy individuals. METHODS: Twenty-five healthy, right-handed volunteers (10 men, 15 women; mean age, 25.5 years) were enrolled. All participants received four randomly arranged, dual-mode, simultaneous stimulations under the following conditions: condition 1, high-frequency rTMS over the right primary motor cortex (M1) and sham tDCS over the left M1; condition 2, high-frequency rTMS over the right M1 and anodal tDCS over the left M1; condition 3, high-frequency rTMS over the right M1 and cathodal tDCS over the left M1; and condition 4, sham rTMS and sham tDCS. The cortical excitability of the right M1 and motor functions of the left hand were assessed before and after each simulation. RESULTS: Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes after stimulation were significantly higher than before stimulation, under the conditions 1 and 2. The MEP amplitude in condition 2 was higher than both conditions 3 and 4, while the MEP amplitude in condition 1 was higher than condition 4. The results of the Purdue Pegboard test and the box and block test showed significant improvement in conditions 1 and 2 after stimulation. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous stimulation by anodal tDCS over the left M1 with high-frequency rTMS over the right M1 could produce interhemispheric modulation and homeostatic plasticity, which resulted in modulation of cortical excitability and motor functions.