Repeated daily exposure to direct current stimulation does not result in sustained or notable side effects

摘要

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that has been shown to be safe and effective in modulating underlying neural tissue [1]. The modulatory effects of tDCS on behavior have been shown to last up to 90 min after stimulation has ended [2,3]. In general, the observed behavioral effect is that anodal stimulation facilitates behavioral performance and, conversely, cathodal stimulation degrades performance on a task [4]. Importantly, tDCS has been shown to reliably modulate behavioral outcomes (i.e. [5]). Because tDCS has been shown to reliably enhance performance, tDCS may become an important tool in both cognitive remediation and the enhancement of learning abilities. However, to reliably enhance learning, repeated sessions of stimulation are often necessary [5,6]. The goal of this study was to systematically examine the safety profile associated with repeated exposure to tDCS.