The Effect of Prefrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Attention Network Function in Healthy Volunteers.

Objectives: The effect of acute transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cortical attention networks remains unclear. We examined the effect of 20 min of 2 mA dorsolateral prefrontal cortex tDCS (bipolar balanced montage) on the efficiency of alerting, orienting and executive attention networks measured by the attention network test.

Materials And Methods: A between-subjects stratified randomized design compared active tDCS vs. sham tDCS on attention network function in healthy young adults.

Results: Executive attention was greater following active vs. sham stimulation (d = 0.76) in the absence of effects on alerting, orienting, or global RT or error rates. Group differences were not moderated by state-mood.

Conclusion(s): Twenty minutes of active 2 mA tDCS over left DLPFC is associated with greater executive attention in healthy humans.