Bilateral frontal transcranial direct current stimulation: Failure to replicate classic findings in healthy subjects

Koenigs, Michael; Ukueberuwa, Dede; Campion, Paul; Grafman, Jordan; Wassermann, Eric

doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2008.10.010

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Volume 120, Issue 1 , Pages 80-84, January 2009

Bilateral frontal transcranial direct current stimulation: Failure to replicate classic findings in healthy subjects

Michael Koenigs
- Brain Stimulation Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1440, Bethesda, MD 20892-1440, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 6001 Research Park Boulevard, Madison, WI 53719, USA
Dede Ukueberuwa
- Brain Stimulation Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1440, Bethesda, MD 20892-1440, USA
Paul Campion
- Brain Stimulation Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1440, Bethesda, MD 20892-1440, USA
Jordan Grafman
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1440, Bethesda, MD 20892-1440, USA
Eric Wassermann
- Brain Stimulation Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, MSC 1440, Bethesda, MD 20892-1440, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 301 496 0151; fax: +1 301 480 2909.

Accepted 6 October 2008.

Abstract

Objective

There has been no modern effort to replicate, further characterize, or quantify the dramatic effects on affect described in controlled studies from the 1960s using bilateral frontal electrodes with an extra-cephalic reference in a mixed group composed primarily of mildly depressed individuals. We performed a comprehensive, quantitative assessment of the effects of bifrontal TDCS on emotion in 21 healthy subjects.

Methods

In a double-blind crossover study, we administered tests of emotional state, affect, emotional decision-making, arousal, and psychomotor functions during sham, anodal, and cathodal TDCS.

Results

We found no systematic effects on any measure, despite two subjects who had pronounced mood effects in the predicted direction. There were no adverse events.

Conclusions

In line with some other studies, we found no consistent effects of bifrontal TDCS on measures of emotional function of psychomotor performance.

Significance

These results demonstrate the safety of bilateral anterior frontal TDCS with an extra-cephalic reference, but raise questions about its effectiveness as a modulator of mood and emotional cognition, at least in healthy subjects.

Keywords: Emotion, Cognition, Frontal lobe, Direct current, Behavior, Electrical, Non-invasive, Brain stimulation