Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Cognitive Training Induces Response Inhibition Facilitation Through Distinct Neural Responses According to the Stimulation Site: A Follow-up Event-Related Potentials Study

Abstract

Objective We investigated whether the mid-term impact (1 week posttraining) of a “combined cognitive rehabilitation (CRP)/transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) program” on the performance of a Go/No-go task was enhanced compared with isolated CRP and whether it varied according to the stimulation site (right inferior frontal gyrus [rIFG] vs right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [rDLPFC]). Methods A total of 150 healthy participants were assigned to (1) an Inhibition Training (IT) group, (2) a group receiving active tDCS over the rIFG in combination with IT (IT + IF), (3) a group receiving active tDCS over the rDLPFC in combination with IT (IT + DL), (4) a group receiving IT with sham tDCS (ITsham), and (5) a No-Training (NT) group to control for test-retest effects. Each group undertook 3 sessions of a Go/No-go task concomitant with the recording of event-related potentials (T0, before training; T1, at the end of a 4-day training session [20 minutes each day]; T2, 1 week after T1). Results With the exception of the NT participants, all the groups exhibited improved performances at T2. The IT + DL group exhibited the best improvement profile, indexed by faster response times (RTs) (T0 > T1 = T2), with a reduced rate of errors at the posttraining sessions compared with both T0 and T1. This “inhibitory learning effect” was neurophysiologically indexed by shorter No-go N2d latencies and enhanced No-go P3d amplitudes. Conclusion CRP combined with active tDCS over the rDLPFC appears to be optimal for boosting long-term (one week) inhibitory skills as it induced specific and robust neural changes.

Long-term effects of repeated multitarget high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training on response inhibition gains

“…Importantly, the response inhibition improvement in this study persisted for up to 1 month following the intervention, consistent with previous studies in which repeated sessions of tDCS combined with concurrent cognitive training could produce after-effects that persisted from 1 week to 1 month ( Dousset et al, 2021 ; Dubuson et al, 2021 ; Lee and Kim, 2021 ; Pisano et al, 2022 ). However, in the two studies involving response inhibition ( Dousset et al, 2021 ; Dubuson et al, 2021 ), the after-effects lasted for 1 or 2 weeks, which differs from the 1-month after-effects in our study. This inconsistency may be attributed to the duration of intervention in previous studies that used four or five daily sessions of 20 min compared with 10 daily sessions of 20 min in this study.…”

“…However, limited studies focused on whether repeated tDCS combined with concurrent behavioral task training further extends response inhibition performance relative to a single intervention method, and the findings are heterogeneous among these few studies. Some studies have shown that this combination can induce greater response inhibition enhancement or better clinical outcomes (improved abstinence rate of alcohol), with the effects lasting 1 or 2 weeks ( Dousset et al, 2021 ; Dubuson et al, 2021 ). However, according to some findings, this combination cannot produce additional benefits for response inhibition performance at post-intervention or follow-up sessions ( Smits et al, 2021 ; Westwood et al, 2021 ; Zhou and Xuan, 2022 ).…”

Effects of tDCS during inhibitory control training on performance and PTSD, aggression and anxiety symptoms: a randomized-controlled trial in a military sample

“…on 10-20 system EEG positions F8 or F10 (Coffman et al, 2012 ; Schroeder et al, 2020 ), or higher, e.g. on position F4 to focus the field on the dorsolateral PFC (Dousset et al, 2020 ; Salehinejad, Wischnewski, Nejati, Vicario, & Nitsche, 2019 ). However, tDCS with the anode placed on the F8-Cz Fz-T4 crossing, as in our study, has also shown successful response inhibition enhancement (Mayer et al, 2020 ; Schroeder et al, 2020 ).…”

Effectiveness of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy with and Without Computer-based Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy on Emotion Regulation and Response Inhibition in Methamphetamine Abusers

“…It might break down psychological interventions (37) and executive dysfunctions, especially inhibitory control, which explain the high rate of relapse even after long-term abstinence in substance abusers (36). Cognitive rehabilitation by promoting inhibitory skills (38) can decrease the probability of relapse in substance abusers.…”