title: Prefrontal cortex modulation using transcranial DC stimulation reduces alcohol craving: a double-blind, sham-controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional neuroimaging studies have shown that specific brain areas are associated with alcohol craving including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). We tested whether modulation of DLPFC using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) could alter alcohol craving in patients with alcohol dependence while being exposed to alcohol cues.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a randomized sham-controlled study in which 13 subjects received sham and active bilateral tDCS delivered to DLPFC (anodal left/cathodal right and anodal right/cathodal left). For sham stimulation, the electrodes were placed at the same positions as in active stimulation; however, the stimulator was turned off after 30s of stimulation. Subjects were presented videos depicting alcohol consumption to increase alcohol craving.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that both anodal left/cathodal right and anodal right/cathodal left significantly decreased alcohol craving compared to sham stimulation (p<0.0001). In addition, we found that following treatment, craving could not be further increased by alcohol cues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed that tDCS treatment to DLPFC can reduce alcohol craving. These findings extend the results of previous studies using noninvasive brain stimulation to reduce craving in humans. Given the relatively rapid suppressive effect of tDCS and the highly fluctuating nature of alcohol craving, this technique may prove to be a valuable treatment strategy within the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Nucleo de Neurociencias, Mackenzie University, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Boggio
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sultani
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fecteau
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merabet
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mecca
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascual-Leone
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basaglia
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fregni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003463:Cues; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*