Modulating parameters of excitability during and after transcranial direct current stimulation of the human motor cortex
Open accessAbstract
Weak transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the human motor cortex results in excitability shifts which occur during and after stimulation. These excitability shifts are polarity-specific with anodal tDCS enhancing excitability, and cathodal reducing it. To explore the origin of this excitability modulation in more detail, we measured the input-output curve and motor thresholds as global parameters of cortico-spinal excitability, and determined intracortical inhibition and facilitation, as well as facilitatory indirect wave (I-wave) interactions. Measurements were performed during short-term tDCS, which elicits no after-effects, and during other tDCS protocols which do elicit short- and long-lasting after-effects. Resting and active motor thresholds remained stable during and after tDCS. The slope of the input-output curve was increased by anodal tDCS and decreased by cathodal tDCS. Anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex reduced intracortical inhibition and enhanced facilitation after tDCS but not during tDCS. Cathodal tDCS reduced facilitation during, and additionally increased inhibition after its administration. During tDCS, I-wave facilitation was not influenced but, for the after-effects, anodal tDCS increased I-wave facilitation, while cathodal tDCS had only minor effects. These results suggest that the effect of tDCS on cortico-spinal excitability during a short period of stimulation (which does not induce after-effects) primarily depends on subthreshold re…
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tDCS applies a continuous, low-intensity electrical current that typically produces excitatory/inhibitory modulation in cortical regions immediately below the electrodes, depending on polarity.
“The technique is based on the application of a continuous, low-intensity electrical current, where one typically observes patterns of excitatory/inhibitory modulation in the cortical regions immediately below the positioned electrodes, depending on the polarity used11.”
From Ventrolateral but not Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex tDCS effectively impact emotion reappraisal – effects on Emotional Experience and Interbeat Interval (2018) · cites this paper as [11]
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- Authors
- Nitsche, M. A., Seeber, A., Frommann, K., Klein, C. C., Rochford, C., Nitsche, M. S., Fricke, K., Liebetanz, D., Lang, N., Antal, A., Paulus, W., & Tergau, F.
- Affiliations
- University of Göttingen (DE)
- Venue
- The Journal of Physiology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2005-09-28
- Volume
- 568
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 291-303
- ISSN
- 0022-3751 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7793
- OpenAlex
- W2154074499
- Cited by
- 744
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 43 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 50 · 2012: 41
- FWCI
- 10.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- The Journal of Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- GRO (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Neurological disorders and treatments
- Keywords
- transcranial direct current stimulation, motor cortex excitability, corticospinal excitability, input-output curves, motor threshold, intracortical inhibition, intracortical facilitation, resting membrane potential, synaptic activity
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Electric Stimulation, Evoked Potentials, Female, Humans, Male, Motor Cortex, Motor Neurons, Neural Conduction, Neural Inhibition, Synapses
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