Trial reportNeuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society2021
Combining Frontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation With Walking Rehabilitation to Enhance Mobility and Executive Function: A Pilot Clinical Trial.
Trial report in Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06414213 (Enhancing Locomotor Learning With Motor Imagery and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation), which is not on this map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 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.
Enhancing Locomotor Learning With Motor Imagery and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- Can exercise combined with transcranial direct current stimulation improve cognitive function in older adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2026Pooled it
- The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on static and dynamic posture control in the elderly: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2025Pooled it
- Improving locomotor performance with motor imagery and tDCS in young adults.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Prefrontal cortex activation while walking did not change but gait speed improved after a randomized physical therapy intervention.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2024Trial
- Effects of Prefrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Retention of Performance Gains on an Obstacle Negotiation Task in Older Adults.Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society · 2023Trial
- Development and validation of the TabCAT-EXAMINER: A tablet-based executive functioning battery for research and clinical trials.Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS · 2025Article
- Effects of variable-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise on executive function and underlying neural mechanisms in male college students.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Disability Moderates Dual Task Walking Performance and Neural Efficiency in Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.Neurorehabilitation and neural repair · 2024Article
- Perturbation walking effects on prefrontal cortical activation and walking performance in older women with and without osteoarthritis: a FNIRS study.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2024Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesThis pilot study assessed whether frontal lobe transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with complex walking rehabilitation is feasible, safe, and shows preliminary efficacy for improving walking and executive function. MATERIALS AND
methodsParticipants were randomized to one of the following 18-session interventions: active tDCS and rehabilitation with complex walking tasks (Active/Complex); sham tDCS and rehabilitation with complex walking tasks (Sham/Complex); or sham tDCS and rehabilitation with typical walking (Sham/Typical). Active tDCS was delivered over F3 (cathode) and F4 (anode) scalp locations for 20 min at 2 mA intensity. Outcome measures included tests of walking function, executive function, and prefrontal activity measured by functional near infrared spectroscopy.
resultsNinety percent of participants completed the intervention protocol successfully. tDCS side effects of tingling or burning sensations were low (average rating less than two out of 10). All groups demonstrated gains in walking performance based on within-group effect sizes (d ≥ 0.50) for one or more assessments. The Sham/Typical group showed the greatest gains for walking based on between-group effect sizes. For executive function, the Active/Complex group showed the greatest gains based on moderate to large between-group effect sizes (d = 0.52-1.11). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) findings suggest improved prefrontal cortical activity during walking.
conclusionsEighteen sessions of walking rehabilitation combined with tDCS is a feasible and safe intervention for older adults. Preliminary effects size data indicate a potential improvement in executive function by adding frontal tDCS to walking rehabilitation. This study justifies future larger clinical trials to better understand the benefits of combining tDCS with walking rehabilitation.
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What OpenQuestion holds
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.