Brain Stimul
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Previous studies have claimed that weak transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) induces persisting activity changes in the human motor cortex and working memory, but to date no studies have evaluated the effects of tDCS on declarative memory. ⋯ The results indicated that active stimulation of the left DLPFC leads to an enhancement or impairment of verbal memorization depending on the polarity of the stimulation. Furthermore, this effect was specific to the site of stimulation.
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Comparative Study
Differences in the experience of active and sham transcranial direct current stimulation.
A limited number of studies have shown that modulation of cortical excitability using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is safe and tolerable. Few have directly evaluated whether sham and active stimulation are indistinguishable. ⋯ TDCS is a safe well-tolerated technique with no evidence of risk for serious adverse effects. Sensory side effects are common, but the severity is typically low. Because sensory side effects are more frequent and more severe in active compared with sham tDCS, the current method of sham stimulation may not be an adequate control condition for some studies.
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The transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigm short-latency sensory afferent inhibition (SAI) investigates sensori-motor integration. Conventionally, one stimulation intensity is used for the conditioning pulse to the peripheral nerve. ⋯ Effects on MEP size in SAI depend on stimulus intensity and are not limited to anatomically homotopic muscles. Inhibitory rTMS modulates motor output but not the interaction of sensory inputs with the motor cortex.
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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is able to modify cortical excitability and activity in humans. ⋯ Cathodal tDCS of the primary sensory cortex significantly reduced the sensitivity to Aδ-fiber-mediated cold sensation, C-fiber-mediated warm sensation was reduced only compared with baseline, whereas Aß-fiber-mediated somatosensory inputs were less affected. Our results correspond with our previous observations of primary motor cortex tDCS effects on QST parameters.