Trial reportBrain stimulation
tDCS to the left DLPFC modulates cognitive and physiological correlates of executive function in a state-dependent manner.
Trial report in Brain stimulation. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 75 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
75 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- The Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on the Cognitive Functions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Neuropsychology review · 2025Pooled it
- Towards optimized methodological parameters for maximizing the behavioral effects of transcranial direct current stimulation.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2024Pooled it
- Uncorking the limitation-improving dual tasking using transcranial electrical stimulation and task training in the elderly: a systematic review.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2024Pooled it
- The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on cognitive function for mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2023Pooled it
- Bilateral parietal tRNS improves processing speed on the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT): behavioral and ERP evidence.Behavioral and brain functions : BBF · 2026Trial
- Training-induced cognitive coupling emerges under sham but not active transcranial electrical stimulation in older adults: a triple-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2026Trial
- Transcranial direct current stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex improves dual-task performance in people with stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2026Trial
- Modulating subjective and objective cognitive state fatigue in long COVID with repetitive anodal tDCS: results from a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.BMC neuroscience · 2026Trial
- Predicting the Beneficial Effects of Cognitive Stimulation and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment with Clinical, Inflammation, and Human Microglia Exposed to Serum as Potential Markers: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Trial
- Differing effectiveness of transcranial random noise stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation for enhancing working memory in healthy individuals: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2024Trial
- The two-back task leads to activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia patients with predominant negative symptoms: a fNIRS study and its implication for tDCS.Experimental brain research · 2024Trial
- Frontal two-electrode transcranial direct current stimulation protocols may not affect performance on a combined flanker Go/No-Go task.Scientific reports · 2023Trial
- Multichannel anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in a paediatric population.Scientific reports · 2021Trial
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Improves Cognitive Control in Patients With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized Behavioral and Neurophysiological Study.Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging · 2021Trial
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- Understanding loss aversion by using tDCS stimulation on DLPFC and multiple ERP measures: A tDCS-EEG study.Cognitive, affective & behavioral neuroscience · 2026Article
- The underlying mechanisms of tDCS-Based cognitive enhancement in unpredictable task switching: A machine learning-based approach for EEG signal analysis.Neuroimage. Reports · 2026Article
- Differential P300 Signatures of Executive Dysfunction in Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Borderline Intellectual Functioning.The Eurasian journal of medicine · 2026Article
- The Effects of Acute Cognitively Engaging Physical Activity on Executive Function in Preschool Children: Evidence from Behavioral and fNIRS Measures.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
15 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe use of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to study anatomical and physiological dynamics and circuits supporting cognition and executive functions in particular has dramatically increased in recent years. However, its mechanisms of action remain only partially understood.
objectiveIn this study we assess the cognitive and physiological effects of anodal tDCS to the DLPFC on executive function in order to understand (1) the role of DLPFC laterality, (2) the physiological dynamics sustaining the modulation of executive function by tDCS, and (3) the impact of state-dependent dynamics.
methodsIn a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, we applied anodal tDCS targeting the left vs. right DLPFC vs. sham in 20 healthy individuals (10 males, 10 females). Immediately before and after tDCS, subjects performed the Flanker Task while we measured behavioral (reaction time and accuracy) and neurophysiological (ERP) responses. Specifically, the amplitude of N200, P300, ERN and Pe is compared before and after stimulation.
resultsAnodal tDCS to the left DLPFC lead to a significant improvement in reaction time, an increase in P300 amplitude and a decrease in N200 amplitude in a state-dependent manner: baseline ERP amplitudes conditioned the effects of tDCS.
conclusionGiven the role of these ERPs in conflict-related tasks, we speculate that tDCS is modulating the subconstructs of selective attention, conflict monitoring and response inhibition. These findings contribute to a further understanding of the role of left DLPFC in the modulation of executive function, and shed light into the mechanisms of action and the state dependent nature of tDCS.
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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.