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What transcranial direct current stimulation intensity is best for cognitive enhancement?

Jason Smucny
Published in: Journal of neurophysiology (2021)
In a recent study published in The Journal of Neurophysiology, Ehrardt et al. (Ehrhardt SE, Filmer HL, Wards Y, Mattingley JB, Dux PE. J Neurophysiol 125: 385-397, 2021) report that moderate intensity (1 mA/25 cm2) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is optimal for improving performance on a stimulus-response matching task, as opposed to a lower 0.7 mA/25 cm2 or higher 2 mA/25 cm2 dose. This result suggests that behavioral effects of tDCS do not follow a linear dose-response curve. Potential neurobiological and neurocognitive implications of these findings, as well as suggested directions for future research, are discussed.
Keyphrases
  • transcranial direct current stimulation
  • high intensity
  • working memory
  • current status
  • randomized controlled trial
  • human health
  • climate change