A Double-Blind Study Exploring the Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to Potentially Enhance Mindfulness Meditation (E-Meditation)

Badran, Bashar W.; Austelle, Chris W.; Smith, Nicole R.; Glusman, Chloe E.; Froeliger, Brett; Garland, Eric L.; Borckardt, Jeffrey J.; George, Mark S.; Short, Baron

doi:10.1016/j.brs.2016.09.009

Cited by 34 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The anode electrode was placed over F8 to facilitate task-specific learning and the cathode electrode was placed over the contralateral supraorbital region with the hypothesis of “electrically” inducing a transient hypofrontality. While Badran et al. (2017) found statistically non-significant differences in mood ratings, self-endorsements of mindfulness increased in the stimulation groups compared to sham.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…Recently, “E-meditation” has been proposed as a novel approach to potentially reduce the learning curve of intensive meditative sessions and to possibly simultaneously enhance psychological well-being ( Badran et al., 2017 ) and emotional intelligence and emotional valence ( Robinson et al., 2017 ). For example, Badran et al., 2017 conducted a cross-over double-blind pilot study, which combined 20 mins of guided meditation (audio recordings) with tDCS at 1.0 mA, 2.0 mA and a sham stimulation conditions. The outcome measures were self-reports of mindfulness and affect before and after each of the 3 (total) sessions over the course of 3 weeks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mindfulness-based training with transcranial direct current stimulation modulates neuronal resource allocation in working memory: A randomized pilot study with a nonequivalent control group

Hunter

Lieberman

Coffman

et al. 2018

Heliyon

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Mindfulness-based training (MBT) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) methods such as direct current stimulation (tDCS) have demonstrated promise for the augmentation of cognitive abilities. The current study investigated the potential compatibility of concurrent “electrical” MBT and tDCS (or eMBT) by testing its combined effects on behavioral and neurophysiological indices of working memory (WM) and attentional resource allocation. Thirty-four healthy participants were randomly assigned to either a MBT task with tDCS group (eMBT) or an active control training task with sham tDCS (Control) group. Training lasted 4-weeks, with up to twenty MBT sessions and with up to eight of those sessions that were eMBT sessions. Electroencephalography was acquired during varying WM load conditions using the n-back task (1-, 2-, 3-back), along with performance on complex WM span tasks (operation and symmetry span) and fluid intelligence measures (Ravens and Shipley) before and after training. Improved performance was observed only on the 3-back and spatial span tasks for eMBT but not the Control group. During 3-back performance in the eMBT group, an increase in P3 amplitude and theta power at electrode site Pz was also observed, along with a simultaneous decrease in frontal midline P3 amplitude and theta power compared to the Control group. These results are consistent with the neural efficiency hypothesis, where higher cognitive capacity was associated with more distributed brain activity (i.e., increase in parietal and decrease in frontal amplitudes). Future longitudinal studies are called upon to further examine the direct contributions of tDCS on MBT by assessing the differential effects of electrode montage, polarity, current strength and a direct contrast between the eMBT and MBT conditions on performance and neuroimaging outcome data. While preliminary, the current results provided evidence for the potential compatibility of using eMBT to modulate WM capacity through the allocation of attention and its neurophysiological correlates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mindfulness-based training with transcranial direct current stimulation modulates neuronal resource allocation in working memory: A randomized pilot study with a nonequivalent control group

Hunter

Lieberman

Coffman

et al. 2018

Heliyon

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Due to these positive findings, the vast majority of tDCS studies now involve functional targeting : enhancing the effects of a particular training program by combining it with tDCS. In turn, the number of potential tDCS studies is limited only by the number of training programs that can be imagined, and has led to an exponential number of published tDCS articles that incorporate a wide range of topics; including studies with healthy adults for behaviors unrelated to a particular illness (e.g., meditation; Badran et al, 2017). The recent creation of computer modeling software (Bikson et al, 2012) also allows researchers to now include anatomical targeting in their studies: determining the best electrode configuration that will drive stimulation toward a targeted neural area.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maximizing the Treatment Benefit of tDCS in Neurodegenerative Anomia

Roncero

Popov

et al. 2019

Front. Neurosci.

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We evaluated whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in two different montages could improve picture naming abilities in participants with anomic Alzheimer Disease or Frontotemporal dementia.MethodsUtilizing a double-blind cross-over design, twelve participants were trained on picture naming over a series of 10 sessions with 30 min of anodal (2 mA) tDCS stimulation to either the left inferior parietotemporal region (P3), the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3), or sham stimulation. We evaluated performance on a trained picture naming list, an equivalent novel untrained list, and additional neuropsychological tasks.ResultsFor trained item picture naming, significantly larger improvement was seen for real stimulation vs. sham stimulation for both the DLPFC and left inferior parieto-temporal stimulation montages at the end of the stimulation sessions. The parieto-temporal montage remained superior to sham 2 weeks poststimulation. Significant improvement vs. sham was also seen for novel “untrained” item picture naming 2 weeks post-stimulation when the parieto-temporal montage was given, whereas no change was observed when the DLPFC montage was given. Finally, comparing groups when they received the parieto-temporal montage, participants with semantic variant Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) showed the least improvement for untrained items after their sessions. Scores on the additional neuropsychological tasks were unchanged.ConclusiontDCS stimulation has promise as a treatment for individuals with anomia arising from neurodegenerative disease, but its effectiveness can vary depending on the training given, the montage location used, as well as a participants’ diagnosis.

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“…Both MBRP and tDCS have independently shown benefits for treating AUD. Further, there is recent evidence from small pilot studies that tDCS of the frontal cortex can enhance the effects of mindfulness training, potentially by improving working memory (Hunter et al., ), increasing positive affective experience (Robinson et al., ), or increasing awareness (Badran et al., ). The combination of MBRP and tDCS may provide synergistic benefits to reducing symptoms of AUD greater than each can provide alone.…”

Section: Behavioral and Neurobiological Dysfunction In Audmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mindfulness‐Based Relapse Prevention and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Reduce Heavy Drinking: A Double‐Blind Sham‐Controlled Randomized Trial

Witkiewitz

Stein

Votaw

et al. 2019

Alcoholism Clin & Exp Res

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Background: Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have independently shown benefits for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). Recent work suggests tDCS may enhance mindfulness. The combination of MBRP and tDCS may provide synergistic benefits and may target both behavioral and neurobiological dysfunctions in AUD. The goal of this double-blind sham-controlled randomized trial was to examine the efficacy of a rolling group MBRP treatment combined with tDCS among individuals interested in reducing their drinking.Methods: Individuals who were interested in reducing their alcohol use (n = 84; 40.5% female; mean age = 52.3; 98.9% with current AUD) were randomized to receive active (2.0 milliamps) or sham (0.0 milliamps) anodal tDCS (5 cm 9 3 cm electrode) of the right inferior frontal gyrus with the 5 cm 9 3 cm cathodal electrode applied to the left upper arm, combined with 8 weeks of outpatient MBRP rolling group treatment. Assessments were conducted at baseline, posttreatment, and 2 months following treatment. The primary outcome was drinks per drinking day, and secondary outcomes were percent heavy drinking days, self-reported craving, alcohol cue reactivity in an alcohol cue task, and response inhibition in a stop signal reaction time task.Results: Results indicated significant reductions in drinks per drinking day over time, B (SE) = À0.535 (0.16), p = 0.001, and a significant dose effect for number of groups attended, B (SE) = À0.259 (0.11), p = 0.01. There were also significant effects of time and dose for number of groups attended on secondary outcomes of percent heavy drinking days and alcohol cue reactivity. There were no effects of active versus sham tDCS on primary or secondary outcomes.Conclusions: Findings from the current study provide initial support for the effectiveness of rolling group MBRP as an outpatient treatment for drinking reduction. The current study did not find additive effects of this tDCS protocol in enhancing MBRP among individuals with drinking reduction goals.

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A Double-Blind Study Exploring the Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to Potentially Enhance Mindfulness Meditation (E-Meditation)

Cited by 34 publications

References 10 publications

Mindfulness-based training with transcranial direct current stimulation modulates neuronal resource allocation in working memory: A randomized pilot study with a nonequivalent control group

Mindfulness-based training with transcranial direct current stimulation modulates neuronal resource allocation in working memory: A randomized pilot study with a nonequivalent control group

Maximizing the Treatment Benefit of tDCS in Neurodegenerative Anomia

Mindfulness‐Based Relapse Prevention and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Reduce Heavy Drinking: A Double‐Blind Sham‐Controlled Randomized Trial

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