P178. Does current strength interact with baseline performance to influence tDCS outcome? A replication study

Learmonth, G. , Benwell, C., Thut, G. and Harvey, M. (2017) P178. Does current strength interact with baseline performance to influence tDCS outcome? A replication study. UNSPECIFIED e103-e104. (doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.10.299)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

Introduction: TDCS studies have recently faced strong criticism for exhibiting both a large intra- and inter-subject response variability and a low reproducibility of effects. We here attempt to replicate one of our own recent studies. In this study, we found a rightward shift of spatial attention bias, relative to a leftward (“pseudoneglect”) bias at baseline (as indexed by the landmark task) using a bi-hemispheric montage (P5-aTCS/P6-cTDCS, Dual tDCS) to affect the balance of activity between the left versus right posterior parietal cortices (PPCs). This effect was overall weak (near significant trend in 40 participants), but displayed a complex, non-linear interaction between current strength and baseline task performance, indicating inter-individual variability in sensitivity to tDCS according to baseline state and intensity. Objectives: Using a within-subjects design (vs between-subjects in our previous study) to further test and replicate baseline state- and intensity-dependency of tDCS outcome. Methods: 20 adults received 1 mA & 2 mA Dual, and Sham tDCS, counterbalanced across different days. In each session, 6 blocks of the landmark task were completed (2 pre-tDCS, 2 during-tDCS and 2 post-tDCS). Dual tDCS was applied for 15 min (Sham = 30 s). Subjects were divided into good/poor baseline performance groups. Results: We found no overall effects of tDCS on landmark task performance, nor any interaction with the factors baseline state or tDCS intensity. Our data are however not fully conclusive as there are group-level spatial bias differences at baseline between the 3 testing sessions that may confound the results (and were not present in our previous study). Further recordings are needed to resolve this point (that we hope to present at the conference). Conclusion: We believe more replication studies (within- or across participants) are needed to establish reproducibility of tDCS effects.

Item Type:Conference or Workshop Item
Additional Information:Abstract, 6th International Conference on Transcranial Brain Stimulation, Göttingen, Germany, 7–10 September, 2016
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Thut, Professor Gregor and Learmonth, Dr Gemma and Harvey, Professor Monika and Benwell, Mr Christopher
Authors: Learmonth, G., Benwell, C., Thut, G., and Harvey, M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
Journal Name:Clinical Neurophysiology
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:1388-2457
ISSN (Online):1872-8952
Published Online:15 February 2017

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record