J Korean Soc Biol Ther Psychiatry.  2020 Jun;26(2):116-126.

A Review on Neural Mechanisms of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cognitive Enhancement : Focused on Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies

• Hong H
• Kim J
• Lee H
• Kim S
• Kang I
• Hong G
• Kim J

Abstract

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive and effective neuromodulatory technique to modulate cortical activities by applying 1 to 2 milliamps electric current. The use of tDCS to enhance cognitive function such as executive function and memory has attracted much attention in recent years, and a lot of studies have been carried out to identify neural mechanisms underlying cognitive enhancement effects of tDCS. In this review, we discussed the previous neuroimaging studies on applications of tDCS for cognitive enhancement using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Previous tDCS studies for neurological or psychiatric conditions and elderly individuals suggested that cognitive enhancement effects of tDCS were associated with normalizing aberrant brain networks and activities related to pathophysiology. Moreover, tDCS-induced cognitive enhancement in healthy individuals was associated with functional changes in brain activations and network connectivity. Furthermore, cognitive enhancement effects of tDCS were varied depending on the neurological structure and functional characteristics between individuals. The current review may provide critical insights into functional activity and connectivity of the brain regarding cognitive enhancement effects of tDCS, which could give direction for further studies on identifying the specific neural mechanisms and clinical strategies of tDCS.

Keyword

Cognitive enhancement; Transcranial direct current stimulation; Functional magnetic resonance imaging