The Role of Timing in the Induction of Neuromodulation in Perceptual Learning by Transcranial Electric Stimulation

Pirulli, Cornelia; Fertonani, Anna; Miniussi, Carlo

doi:10.1016/j.brs.2012.12.005

Cited by 158 publications

(155 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Another study found enhanced effects for online compared with offline stimulation in a picture-naming task for older adults, but not for young adults [montage: anode electrode at left DLPFC, cathode electrode at central zero (Cz) EEG site] (43). Finally, in a visual perceptual learning task, the opposite pattern was found: The effects of offline stimulation were stronger compared with online stimulation (montage: anode electrode at the occipital cortex, cathode electrode positioned extracephalically on the right arm) (44). Therefore, it is possible that the differences between online and offline effects are task-and montage-dependent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…The main analysis was based on the full experimental length (40 min, 24 targets and 24 thought probes). Given that the timing of the tDCS stimulation relative to the experimental paradigm might influence the behavioral effects (26,(42)(43)(44), we conducted an additional analysis for the first (online stimulation) and second (offline stimulation) parts of the experiment separately (20 min, 12 targets and 12 thought probes each).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increasing propensity to mind-wander with transcranial direct current stimulation

Axelrod

Rees

Lavidor

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

122

212

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Humans mind-wander quite intensely. Mind wandering is markedly different from other cognitive behaviors because it is spontaneous, self-generated, and inwardly directed (inner thoughts). However, can such an internal and intimate mental function also be modulated externally by means of brain stimulation? Addressing this question could also help identify the neural correlates of mind wandering in a causal manner, in contrast to the correlational methods used previously (primarily functional MRI). In our study, participants performed a monotonous task while we periodically sampled their thoughts to assess mind wandering. Concurrently, we applied transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). We found that stimulation of the frontal lobes [anode electrode at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), cathode electrode at the right supraorbital area], but not of the occipital cortex or sham stimulation, increased the propensity to mind-wander. These results demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, that mind wandering can be enhanced externally using brain stimulation, and that the frontal lobes play a causal role in mind-wandering behavior. These results also suggest that the executive control network associated with the DLPFC might be an integral part of mind-wandering neural machinery.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing propensity to mind-wander with transcranial direct current stimulation

Axelrod

Rees

Lavidor

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

122

212

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In fact, by using the same PL paradigm (contrast detection) in myopic participants, in a previous study we found that 24 sessions were needed to achieve a VA improvement of 0.16 LogMAR, whereas no improvement in CS was found even with such a long training (Camilleri, Pavan, Ghin, Battaglini, et al, 2014). However, if PL is boosted by the concomitant administration of hf-tRNS as shown by previous studies (Camilleri, Pavan, Ghin, Battaglini, et al, 2014;Campana, et al, 2014;Fertonani, et al, 2011;Pirulli, et al, 2013), then 8 sessions of training become enough efficacious to improve uncorrected VA of a similar amount of 24 training sessions with no concurrent stimulation, and to significantly improve uncorrected CS (whereas no improvement was obtained with 24 training sessions using the same paradigm (Camilleri, Pavan, Ghin, Battaglini, et al, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…The frequencies ranged from 100 to 640Hz (high frequency range). This stimulation protocol has been demonstrated efficacious in boosting perceptual learning in previous studies (Camilleri, Pavan, Ghin, Battaglini, et al, 2014;Fertonani, et al, 2011;Pirulli, et al, 2013). The active electrode had an area of 16 cm 2 and was placed over the occipital cortex measured at ~3 cm above the inion.…”

Section: Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (Trns)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unlike tDCS, tRNS has only recently been explored within the visual domain (Camilleri, Pavan, Ghin, Battaglini, et al, 2014;Campana, et al, 2014;Fertonani, Pirulli, & Miniussi, 2011;Pirulli, Fertonani, & Miniussi, 2013). Fertonani and colleagues conducted a study testing the efficacy of different stimulation protocols on an orientation discrimination task (Fertonani, et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The application of online transcranial random noise stimulation and perceptual learning in the improvement of visual functions in mild myopia

2016

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It has recently been demonstrated how perceptual learning, that is an improvement in a sensory/perceptual task upon practice, can be boosted by concurrent high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS). It has also been shown that perceptual learning can generalize and produce an improvement of visual functions in participants with mild refractive defects.By using three different groups of participants (single-blind study), we tested the efficacy of a short training (8 sessions) using a single Gabor contrast-detection task with concurrent hftRNS in comparison with the same training with sham stimulation or hf-tRNS with no concurrent training, in improving visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) of individuals with uncorrected mild myopia.A short training with a contrast detection task is able to improve VA and CS only if coupled with hf-tRNS, whereas no effect on VA and marginal effects on CS are seen with the sole administration of hf-tRNS.Our results support the idea that, by boosting the rate of perceptual learning via the modulation of neuronal plasticity, hf-tRNS can be successfully used to reduce the duration of the perceptual training and/or to increase its efficacy in producing perceptual learning and generalization to improved VA and CS in individuals with uncorrected mild myopia.

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Transcranial direct current stimulation of the prefrontal and visual cortices diversely affects early and late perceptual learning

Wu,

Zhu,

Wang

et al. 2024

Brain and Behavior

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BackgroundResearch has shown that visual perceptual learning (VPL) is related to modifying neural activity in higher level decision‐making regions. However, the causal roles of the prefrontal and visual cortexes in VPL are still unclear. Here, we investigated how anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the prefrontal and visual cortices modulates VPL in the early and later phases and the role of multiple brain regions.MethodsPerceptual learning on the coherent motion direction identification task included early and later stages. After early training, participants needed to continuously train to reach a plateau; once the plateau was reached, participants entered a later stage. Sixty participants were randomly divided into five groups. Regardless of the training at the early and later stages, four groups received multitarget tDCS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) and right middle temporal area (rMT), single‐target tDCS over the rDLPFC, and single‐target tDCS over the rMT or sham stimulation, and one group was stimulated at the ipsilateral brain region (i.e., left MT).ResultsCompared with sham stimulation, multitarget and two single‐target tDCS over the rDLPFC or rMT improved posttest performance and accelerated learning during the early period. However, multitarget tDCS and two single‐target tDCS led to equivalent benefits for VPL. Additionally, these beneficial effects were absent when anodal tDCS was applied to the ipsilateral brain region. For the later period, the above facilitating effects on VPL induced by multitarget or single‐target tDCS disappeared.ConclusionsThis study suggested the causal role of the prefrontal and visual cortices in visual motion perceptual learning by anodal tDCS but failed to find greater beneficial effects by simultaneously stimulating the prefrontal and visual cortices. Future research should investigate the functional associations between multiple brain regions to further promote VPL.

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The Role of Timing in the Induction of Neuromodulation in Perceptual Learning by Transcranial Electric Stimulation

Cited by 158 publications

References 42 publications

Increasing propensity to mind-wander with transcranial direct current stimulation

Increasing propensity to mind-wander with transcranial direct current stimulation

The application of online transcranial random noise stimulation and perceptual learning in the improvement of visual functions in mild myopia

Transcranial direct current stimulation of the prefrontal and visual cortices diversely affects early and late perceptual learning

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