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Physiology of Transcranial Direct and Alternating Current Stimulation

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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Non-invasive brain stimulation with direct (transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS) or alternating currents (transcranial alternating current stimulation, tACS) has been developed in neuroscience research in the last decades and since then has become an effective tool to induce neuroplasticity and modulate cognition and behaviour in humans. The primary effect of tDCS is a subthreshold modulation of resting membrane potentials, which results in alterations of cortical excitability and spontaneous cortical activity. Sufficiently long stimulation results in long-lasting neuroplastic after effects. Beyond these local effects, tDCS induces modifications of functional cortical and subcortical networks. On the other hand, tACS is presumed to primarily entrain oscillatory cortical activity, dependent on the frequency of stimulation, and has been widely applied to investigate motor and cognitive functions. Here we provide an overview about physiological mechanisms of tDCS and tACS, and review their potential application in studies of brain function and cognition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environments and Human Factors, Ardeystr. 67, Dortmund, 44139, Germany

    Min-Fang Kuo M.D., Ph.D. & Michael Nitsche M.D.

  2. Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

    Rafael Polanía

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  1. Min-Fang Kuo M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Rafael Polanía
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  3. Michael Nitsche M.D.
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Correspondence to Michael Nitsche M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation Department and Institute of Psychiatry Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University Hospital and Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    André Brunoni

  2. Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environments and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany

    Michael Nitsche

  3. School of Psychiatry Black Dog Institute & St George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Colleen Loo

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Kuo, MF., Polanía, R., Nitsche, M. (2016). Physiology of Transcranial Direct and Alternating Current Stimulation. In: Brunoni, A., Nitsche, M., Loo, C. (eds) Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33967-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33967-2_3

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