Physiological basis of transcranial direct current stimulation
Open accessAbstract
Since the rediscovery of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) about 10 years ago, interest in tDCS has grown exponentially. A noninvasive stimulation technique that induces robust excitability changes within the stimulated cortex, tDCS is increasingly being used in proof-of-principle and stage IIa clinical trials in a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Alongside these clinical studies, detailed work has been performed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed effects. In this review, the authors bring together the results from these pharmacological, neurophysiological, and imaging studies to describe their current knowledge of the physiological effects of tDCS. In addition, the theoretical framework for how tDCS affects motor learning is proposed.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
tDCS is a promising non-invasive technique for inducing neuroplastic changes in the brain.
“Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising non-invasive technique for inducing neuroplastic changes in the brain [19–20].”
From Primary outcome from the augmenting cognitive training in older adults study (ACT): A tDCS and cognitive training randomized clinical trial (2023) · cites this paper as [19]
Cites
Nitsche, M. A., & Paulus, W. (2000) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.t01-1-00633.x · Cited by 5,656 · see citing works
Self-citationTranscranial direct current stimulation: State of the art 2008
Nitsche, M. A., Cohen, L. G., Wassermann, E. M., Priori, A., Lang, N., Antal, A., Paulus, W., Hummel, F., Boggio, P. S., Fregni, F., et al. (2008) · Brain Stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2008.06.004 · Cited by 3,057 · see citing works
Self-citationBienenstock, E., Cooper, L., & Munro, P. (1982) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.02-01-00032.1982 · Cited by 2,896 · see citing works
Boosting focally-induced brain plasticity by dopamine
Kuo, M.-F., Paulus, W., & Nitsche, M. A. (2008) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bhm098 · Cited by 269 · see citing works
Self-citationMechanisms influencing stimulus-response properties of the human corticospinal system
Boroojerdi, B., Battaglia, F., Muellbacher, W., & Cohen, L. G. (2001) · Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/s1388-2457(01)00523-5 · Cited by 256 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Horvath, J. C., Forte, J. D., & Carter, O. (2015) · Brain Stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2015.01.400 · Cited by 609 · see citing works
Milev, R. V., Giacobbe, P., Kennedy, S. H., Blumberger, D. M., Daskalakis, Z. J., Downar, J., Modirrousta, M., Patry, S., Vila-Rodriguez, F., Lam, R. W., et al. (2016) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0706743716660033 · Cited by 586 · see citing works
Parikh, S. V., Quilty, L. C., Ravitz, P., Rosenbluth, M., Pavlova, B., Grigoriadis, S., Velyvis, V., Kennedy, S. H., Lam, R. W., MacQueen, G. M., et al. (2016) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0706743716659418 · Cited by 562 · see citing works
Li, L. M., Uehara, K., & Hanakawa, T. (2015) · Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fncel.2015.00181 · Cited by 477 · see citing works
Brunoni, A. R., Moffa, A. H., Fregni, F., Palm, U., Padberg, F., Blumberger, D. M., Daskalakis, Z. J., Bennabi, D., Haffen, E., Alonzo, A., et al. (2016) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.115.164715 · Cited by 414 · see citing works
tDCS in patients with disorders of consciousness: Sham-controlled randomized double-blind study
Thibaut, A., Bruno, M.-A., Ledoux, D., Demertzi, A., & Laureys, S. (2014) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000000260 · Cited by 324 · see citing works
Safety of noninvasive brain stimulation in children and adolescents
Krishnan, C., Santos, L., Peterson, M. D., & Ehinger, M. (2015) · Brain stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2014.10.012 · Cited by 292 · see citing works
Shiozawa, P., Fregni, F., Benseñor, I. M., Lotufo, P. A., Berlim, M. T., Daskalakis, J. Z., Cordeiro, Q., & Brunoni, A. R. (2014) · The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1017/s1461145714000418 · Cited by 282 · see citing works
Stagg, C. J., Lin, R. L., Mezue, M., Segerdahl, A., Kong, Y., Xie, J., & Tracey, I. (2013) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.3887-12.2013 · Cited by 279 · see citing works
Self-citationNoninvasive Brain-Computer Interfaces Based on Sensorimotor Rhythms
He, B., Baxter, B., Edelman, B. J., Cline, C. C., & Ye, W. W. (2015) · Proceedings of the IEEE · doi:10.1109/jproc.2015.2407272 · Cited by 233 · see citing works
Kim, S., Stephenson, M. C., Morris, P. G., & Jackson, S. R. (2014) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.05.070 · Cited by 227 · see citing works
Noninvasive brain stimulation treatments for addiction and major depression
Dunlop, K., Hanlon, C. A., & Downar, J. (2017) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/nyas.12985 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Transcranial direct current stimulation in psychiatric disorders
Tortella, G. (2015) · World Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i1.88 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
Rueger, M. A., Keuters, M. H., Walberer, M., Braun, R., Klein, R., Sparing, R., Fink, G. R., Graf, R., & Schroeter, M. (2012) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0043776 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Changing Brain Networks Through Non-invasive Neuromodulation
To, W. T., De Ridder, D., Hart Jr., J., & Vanneste, S. (2018) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2018.00128 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
“Bachtiar et al. (2015) replicated this tDCS experiment and confirmed the decreased GABA levels within M1 and increased resting motor network connectivity.”
BackgroundInfluentialEfficacy of invasive and non-invasive brain modulation interventions for addiction
Luigjes, J., Segrave, R., de Joode, N., Figee, M., & Denys, D. (2019) · Neuropsychology Review · doi:10.1007/s11065-018-9393-5 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Soff, C., Sotnikova, A., Christiansen, H., Becker, K., & Siniatchkin, M. (2017) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/s00702-016-1646-y · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Moseley, P., Fernyhough, C., & Ellison, A. (2013) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.10.001 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Ghanavati, E., Salehinejad, M. A., Nejati, V., & Nitsche, M. A. (2019) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-019-40273-7 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Self-citationTreatment of Primary Progressive Aphasia
Tippett, D. C., Hillis, A. E., & Tsapkini, K. (2015) · Current Treatment Options in Neurology · doi:10.1007/s11940-015-0362-5 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Improving interference control in ADHD patients with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
Breitling, C., Zaehle, T., Dannhauer, M., Bonath, B., Tegelbeckers, J., Flechtner, H.-H., & Krauel, K. (2016) · Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fncel.2016.00072 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Cortical excitability controls the strength of mental imagery
Keogh, R., Bergmann, J., & Pearson, J. (2020) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.50232 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: Beyond Symptomatic Therapies
Buccellato, F. R., D’Anca, M., Tartaglia, G. M., Del Fabbro, M., Scarpini, E., & Galimberti, D. (2023) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms241813900 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
“Among the non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, tDCS is the most safe, tolerable and low-cost to administer for a long time at home [198].”
BackgroundBrunoni, A. R., Zanao, T. A., Vanderhasselt, M.-A., Valiengo, L., de Oliveira, J. F., Boggio, P. S., Lotufo, P. A., Benseñor, I. M., & Fregni, F. (2014) · Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface · doi:10.1111/ner.12080 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Sotnikova, A., Soff, C., Tagliazucchi, E., Becker, K., & Siniatchkin, M. (2017) · Brain Topography · doi:10.1007/s10548-017-0552-4 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Chesters, J., Möttönen, R., & Watkins, K. E. (2018) · Brain · doi:10.1093/brain/awy011 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Bhattacharjee, S., Kashyap, R., Goodwill, A. M., O'Brien, B. A., Rapp, B., Oishi, K., Desmond, J. E., & Chen, S. H. A. (2022) · Brain Stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2021.11.018 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
“tDCS effects are generally polarity dependent where anodal stimulation excites and cathodal stimulation inhibits the underlying membrane potential [3].”
Brunoni, A. R., Machado-Vieira, R., Zarate, C. A., Vieira, E. L. M., Vanderhasselt, M.-A., Nitsche, M. A., Valiengo, L., Benseñor, I. M., Lotufo, P. A., Gattaz, W. F., et al. (2014) · European Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.03.006 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Self-citationStephens, J. A., Jones, K. T., & Berryhill, M. E. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-017-14030-7 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Stuttering severity modulates effects of non-invasive brain stimulation in adults who stutter
Garnett, E. O., Chow, H. M., Choo, A. L., & Chang, S.-E. (2019) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2019.00411 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Boggio, P. S., Asthana, M. K., Costa, T. L., Valasek, C. A., & Osório, A. A. C. (2015) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00294 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Neurostimulation techniques in the treatment of nicotine dependence: a review
Rachid, F. (2016) · The American Journal on Addictions · doi:10.1111/ajad.12405 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Jongkees, B. J., Sellaro, R., Beste, C., Nitsche, M. A., Kühn, S., & Colzato, L. S. (2017) · Cortex · doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2017.02.014 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citationRetractedNeurochemical mechanisms underlying serotonergic modulation of neuroplasticity in humans
Melo, L., Beaupain, M. C., Ghanavati, E., Kuo, M.-F., & Nitsche, M. A. (2024) · Brain Stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2024.04.001 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Self-citationA quantum–classical model of brain dynamics
Sergi, A., Messina, A., Vicario, C. M., & Martino, G. (2023) · Entropy · doi:10.3390/e25040592 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Hausman, H. K., Alexander, G. E., Cohen, R., Marsiske, M., DeKosky, S. T., Hishaw, G. A., O'Shea, A., Kraft, J. N., Dai, Y., Wu, S., et al. (2023) · Brain Stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2023.05.021 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
- Authors
- Stagg, C. J., & Nitsche, M. A.
- Affiliations
- John Radcliffe Hospital (GB)
- University of Göttingen (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Stagg, Charlotte J.
- Venue
- The Neuroscientist
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2011-02
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 37-53
- ISSN
- 1073-8584 (ISSN-L)
- 1089-4098
- OpenAlex
- W2114329358
- Cited by
- 1,719
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 112 · 2025: 134 · 2024: 96 · 2023: 103 · 2022: 127 · 2021: 136 · 2020: 142 · 2019: 156 · 2018: 126 · 2017: 123 · 2016: 132 · 2015: 106 · 2014: 93 · 2013: 71 · 2012: 44
- FWCI
- 6.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- The Neuroscientist (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- GoeScholar The Publication Server of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- GRO (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies
- Keywords
- transcranial direct current stimulation, cortical excitability, non-invasive brain stimulation, motor learning, neurophysiological effects, neuromodulation
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Humans, Learning, Neuronal Plasticity, Psychomotor Performance, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review