Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28830433›Full record

ReviewBiomedical engineering online2017

Transcranial direct current stimulation as a motor neurorehabilitation tool: an empirical review.

Ana Sánchez-Kuhn, Cristian Pérez-Fernández, Rosa Cánovas, Pilar Flores, Fernando Sánchez-Santed

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Biomedical engineering online, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 41 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
41citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
3.3field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05350033 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Inhibitory Control in Addictions: a Triple-blinded, Sham-controlled Clinical Trial.

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversidad de AlmeriaRan2021 to 2022Enrolled200ConditionsSubstance-Related DisordersArmstDCS - tDCS, tDCS - Sham, Sham - tDCS, Sham - Sham
NCT06958081 naactive not recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Acute Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Technical, Expressive, and Scenic Aspects of Musical Performance in Young Orchestra Instrumentalists: A Proof-of-Concept Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorCentro Universitário Augusto MottaRan2025 to 2026Enrolled24ConditionsMusical Performance, Neuromodulation, Performance AnxietyArmsActive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

41 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 70 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor function in patients with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Ana Sánchez-KuhnUniversity of Almería, Almería, Spain.
Cristian Pérez-FernándezUniversity of Almería, Almería, Spain.
Rosa CánovasInstituto de Neurorehabilitación Infantil InPaula, Almería, Spain.
Pilar FloresUniversity of Almería, Almería, Spain.
Fernando Sánchez-SantedUniversity of Almería, Almería, Spain. fsanchez@ual.es.
University of Almería · ES

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The present review collects the most relevant empirical evidence available in the literature until date regarding the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the human motor function. tDCS in a non-invasive neurostimulation technique that delivers a weak current through the brain scalp altering the cortical excitability on the target brain area. The electrical current modulates the resting membrane potential of a variety of neuronal population (as pyramidal and gabaergic neurons); raising or dropping the firing rate up or down, depending on the nature of the electrode and the applied intensity. These local changes additionally have shown long-lasting effects, evidenced by its promotion of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Due to its easy and safe application and its neuromodulatory effects, tDCS has attracted a big attention in the motor neurorehabilitation field among the last years. Therefore, the present manuscript updates the knowledge available about the main concept of tDCS, its practical use, safety considerations, and its underlying mechanisms of action. Moreover, we will focus on the empirical data obtained by studies regarding the application of tDCS on the motor function of healthy and clinical population, comprising motor deficiencies of a variety of pathologies as Parkinson's disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, among others. Finally, we will discuss the main current issues and future directions of tDCS as a motor neurorehabilitation tool.

Indexed as

HumansNeurological RehabilitationSafetyTranscranial Direct Current Stimulation

Identifiers

PMID28830433
PMCPMC5568608
OpenAlexW2746506630

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.