title: Short duration transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates verbal memory.
abstract: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive method of modulating cortical excitability. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of short-duration tDCS (1.6 seconds per trial) on memory performance, and whether the effects were affected by stimulation administered early or late in a trial. Participants memorize words under anodal and cathodal tDCS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in two separate sessions in no-stimulation, early stimulation, and late stimulation trials. Early stimulation occurred during word presentation, whereas late stimulation occurred after word presentation. Early anodal tDCS led to significantly better accuracy and speed in a subsequent recognition test compared to anodal late or no-stimulation conditions. Early cathodal tDCS, on the other hand, led to significantly worse accuracy and speed in a subsequent recognition test compared with cathodal late or no-stimulation conditions. The results of this study suggest that short-duration tDCS can modulate memory performance and highlight the importance of period of stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom. a.h.javadi@gmail.com
authors.forename: Amir Homayoun
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Javadi
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*