title: a-tDCS on the ipsilesional parietal cortex boosts the effects of prism adaptation treatment in neglect.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to compare the effects of multiple sessions of cathodal (c-tDCS) or anodal tDCS (a-tDCS) in modulating the beneficial effects of prism adaptation (PA) treatment in neglect patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 neglect patients were submitted to 10 daily sessions of PA treatment. Patients were pseudo-randomly divided into 3 groups. In the c-tDCS-group, each PA session was coupled with 20 minutes of cathodal stimulation of the left, intact PPC; in the a-tDCS-group, anodal stimulation was applied to PPC of the damaged hemisphere; in the Sham group, sham stimulation was applied. Neglect was evaluated before and after treatment with the Behavioral Inattention Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combined tDCS-PA treatment induced stronger neglect improvement in the a-tDCSgroup as compared to the Sham group. No improvement was found in the c-tDCS group, with respect to that normally induced by PA and found in the Sham group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  c-tDCS abolished neglect amelioration after PA, possibly because stimulation affected the sensorimotor network controlling prism adaptation. Instead, a-tDCS PPC boosted neglect amelioration after PA probably thanks to increased excitability of residual tissue in the lesioned hemisphere, which in turn might reduce dysfunctional over-excitability of the intact hemisphere.
authors: Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy.|Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Campus di Cesena, Cesena, Italy.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Làdavas
authors: IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Giulietti
authors: Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy.|Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Campus di Cesena, Cesena, Italy.|IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.
authors: Alessio
authors: A
authors: Avenanti
authors: Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy.|Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Campus di Cesena, Cesena, Italy.
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Bertini
authors: IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Lorenzini
authors: Istituto di Riabilitazione Santo Stefano, Porto Potenza Picena, Macerata, Italy.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Quinquinio
authors: Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy.|Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Campus di Cesena, Cesena, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Serino
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007909:Lenses; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Neglect; Prism Adaptation; tDCS