International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Abstract

Bilateral Transcranial Direct-current Stimulation (tDCS) of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex during Specific Working Memory Tasks

Barassi G, Saggini R, Carmignano SM, Ancona E, Di felice P, Giannuzzo G, Banchetti A and Bellomo RG

Many authors analyzed the effect of direct current stimulation (tDCS), but the interest in tDCS effect on the human central nervous system for clinical application developed only in the recent years. Aim of current study is to evaluate the impact of tDCS on WM performance and better understand neuromodulatory effects of tDCS, in order to hypothesize applications for the treatment of memory deficits in stroke, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. This study was conducted at the Centre of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, "Gabriele d'Annunzio" University in Chieti, in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 2013. 20 healthy subjects between 20 and 30 years old, 7 females and 13 males were enrolled. The population was divided into two groups; Group A, that underwent transcranial stimulation and Group B, that underwent sham stimulation. During the stimulation patients carry out specific test to asses working memory (Dual n-Back game). We performed 3 sessions in one week, every other day. An improvement in performance was recorded in both groups, statistically significant in the experimental group in 1 Back test. tDCS prefrontal stimulation can modulte working memory performance: further studies are required that would expand the search field and application of tDCS mainly in pathological conditions such as stroke and Parkinson's disease.