1 mA cathodal tDCS shows excitatory effects in children and adolescents: Insights from TMS evoked N100 potential.

In children and adolescents, 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may cause "paradoxical" effects compared with adults: both 1 mA anodal and cathodal tDCS increase amplitude of the motor evoked potential (MEP) as revealed by a single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex. Here, EEG based evoked potentials induced by a single pulse TMS, particularly the N100 component as marker of motor cortex inhibition, were investigated in order to explain effects of tDCS on the developing brain. In nineteen children and adolescents (11-16 years old), 1 mA anodal, cathodal, or sham tDCS was applied over the left primary motor cortex for 10 min.

Ten minutes of 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation was well tolerated by children and adolescents: Self-reports and resting state EEG analysis.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising and well-tolerated method of non-invasive brain stimulation, by which cortical excitability can be modulated. However, the effects of tDCS on the developing brain are still unknown, and knowledge about its tolerability in children and adolescents is still lacking. Safety and tolerability of tDCS was assessed in children and adolescents by self-reports and spectral characteristics of electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings.

Stimulation intensities of transcranial direct current stimulation have to be adjusted in children and adolescents.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on motor cortex excitability in healthy children and adolescents.

Methods: We applied 1mA anodal or cathodal tDCS for 10min on the left primary motor cortex of 19 healthy children and adolescents (mean age 13.9±0.