title: Transcranial direct current stimulation: State of the art 2008.
abstract: Effects of weak electrical currents on brain and neuronal function were first described decades ago. Recently, DC polarization of the brain was reintroduced as a noninvasive technique to alter cortical activity in humans. Beyond this, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of different cortical areas has been shown, in various studies, to result in modifications of perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral functions. Moreover, preliminary data suggest that it can induce beneficial effects in brain disorders. Brain stimulation with weak direct currents is a promising tool in human neuroscience and neurobehavioral research. To facilitate and standardize future tDCS studies, we offer this overview of the state of the art for tDCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Göttingen, Germany. mnitsch1@gwdg.de
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nitsche
authors.forename: Leonardo G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wassermann
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Priori
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antal
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Paulus
authors.forename: Friedhelm
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hummel
authors.forename: Paulo S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Boggio
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fregni
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascual-Leone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*