Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30726234›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2019

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left prefrontal cortex does not affect time-trial self-paced cycling performance: Evidence from oscillatory brain activity and power output.

Darías Holgado, Thomas Zandonai, Luis F Ciria, Mikel Zabala, James Hopker, Daniel Sanabria

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  17. "Brain-Doping," Is It a Real Threat?Frontiers in physiology · 2019
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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

6 authors.

Darías HolgadoDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-3211-8006
Thomas ZandonaiMind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-7606-9675
Luis F CiriaMind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Mikel ZabalaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
James HopkerSchool of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Endurance Research group, University of Kent, Chatham, United Kingdom.
Daniel SanabriaMind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo test the hypothesis that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) influences performance in a 20-min time-trial self-paced exercise and electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillatory brain activity in a group of trained male cyclists.

designThe study consisted of a pre-registered (https://osf.io/rf95j/), randomised, sham-controlled, single-blind, within-subject design experiment.

methods36 trained male cyclists, age 27 (6.8) years, weight 70.1 (9.5) Kg; VO2max: 54 (6.13) ml.min-1.kg-1, Maximal Power output: 4.77 (0.6) W/kg completed a 20-min time-trial self-paced exercise in three separate sessions, corresponding to three stimulation conditions: anodal, cathodal and sham. tDCS was administered before each test during 20-min at a current intensity of 2.0 mA. The anode electrode was placed over the DLPFC and the cathode in the contralateral shoulder. In each session, power output, heart rate, sRPE and EEG (at baseline and during exercise) was measured.

resultsThere were no differences (F = 0.31, p > 0.05) in power output between the stimulation conditions: anodal (235 W [95%CI 222-249 W]; cathodal (235 W [95%CI 222-248 W] and sham (234 W [95%CI 220-248 W]. Neither heart rate, sRPE nor EEG activity were affected by tDCS (all Ps > 0.05).

conclusiontDCS over the left DLFC did not affect self-paced exercise performance in trained cyclists. Moreover, tDCS did not elicit any change on oscillatory brain activity either at baseline or during exercise. Our data suggest that the effects of tDCS on endurance performance should be taken with caution.

Indexed as

Transcranial Direct Current StimulationAdultAthletic PerformanceBrain WavesExerciseHumansMalePrefrontal CortexSingle-Blind MethodYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID30726234
PMCPMC6364890

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.