• Gosuke Sato, Michihiro Osumi, Satoshi Nobusako, and Shu Morioka.
• Neuro Rehabilitation Research Center, Kio University 4-2-2 Umaminaka, Koryo-cho, Kitakatsuragi-gun, Nara, Japan.
• Pain Med. 2021 Sep 8; 22 (9): 2057-2067.

ObjectivesWe examined whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with aerobic exercise (AE) modulated the pressure pain threshold (PPT) and peak alpha frequency (PAF) measured via resting electroencephalography.DesignSingle-blind experimental study with a cross-over design.SettingNeuro Rehabilitation Research Center, Kio University.SubjectsTen healthy controls participated in this study.MethodsThree types of sessions--(i) tDCS, (ii) Sham tDCS/AE, and (iii) tDCS/AE--were tested in this investigation. Anodal stimulation (2 mA, 20 minutes) was applied over the left primary motor cortex. Each session was 20 minutes long. We used the PPT and short-form Profile of Mood States-Brief, as well as PAF measured via resting-electroencephalography, to investigate the effects of tDCS and AE. Heart rate and scores on the Borg scale were used to confirm exercise intensity. PAF was calculated in four regions of interest: frontal, central, parietal, and occipital areas.ResultsThe change ratio of PPT increased during each session. The maximum change ratio of PPT were tDCS: 40.7%, Sham tDCS/AE: 51.5%, and tDCS/AE: 83.4%. change ratio of PPT was earlier and higher in the tDCS/AE trials compared with the other sessions. Negative mood was improved after session completion. Significant differences in PAF were found in the occipital area in the Sham tDCS/AE and tDCS/AE sessions.ConclusionsThe combined tDCS and AE intervention induced significant changes in PPT in a single session, with a PAF that was earlier and higher than those produced during the Sham tDCS/AE and tDCS sessions.© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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