title: Effects of repeated anodal tDCS coupled with cognitive training for patients with severe traumatic brain injury: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether cumulative anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) could enhance rehabilitation of memory and attention in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient and outpatient neurorehabilitation unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three adult patients, 4- to 92- months post severe TBI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly allocated to 2 groups. The experimental group received A-tDCS (10 minutes; 1 mA; in the DLPFC), followed by rehabilitative cognitive training, daily for 15 days. Controls received A-tDCS for 25 seconds (sham condition) with the same rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Battery of memory and attention tests, which included visual and auditory modalities. Participants were tested twice before beginning rehabilitation (to control for spontaneous recovery), after rehabilitation completion, and 4 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tests scores in both groups were similar at 3 weeks before and immediately before treatment. After treatment, the experimental group exhibited larger effect sizes in 6 of 8 cognitive outcome measures, but they were not significantly different from controls. At follow-up, differences remained insignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to previous studies, our study did not provide sufficient evidence to support the efficacy of repeated A-tDCS for enhancing rehabilitation of memory and attention in patients after severe TBI.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology (Drs Leśniak, Polanowska, Seniów, and Członkowska); and Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, Medical University (Dr Członkowska), Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leśniak
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Polanowska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seniów
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Członkowska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult