A technical guide to tDCS, and related non-invasive brain stimulation tools
- PMID: 26652115
- PMCID: PMC4747791
- DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.11.012
A technical guide to tDCS, and related non-invasive brain stimulation tools
Abstract
Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), including transcranial direct and alternating current stimulation (tDCS, tACS) are non-invasive brain stimulation techniques increasingly used for modulation of central nervous system excitability in humans. Here we address methodological issues required for tES application. This review covers technical aspects of tES, as well as applications like exploration of brain physiology, modelling approaches, tES in cognitive neurosciences, and interventional approaches. It aims to help the reader to appropriately design and conduct studies involving these brain stimulation techniques, understand limitations and avoid shortcomings, which might hamper the scientific rigor and potential applications in the clinical domain.
Keywords: Design; Methodology review; Safety; Technical guide; Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS); Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS); Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES); Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS).
Copyright © 2015 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
M. Nitsche and P. Miranda are members of the advisory board for Neuroelectrics. W. Paulus is on the advisory board of EBS technologies and received support in terms of new tES devices by Neuroconn and EBS technologies. CUNY has patents on brain stimulation with M. Bikson as inventor. M. Bikson has equity in Soterix Medical Inc. None of the remaining authors have potential conflicts of interest to be disclosed.
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