ArticleBrain stimulation
Effects of tDCS on spontaneous spike activity in a healthy ambulatory rat model.
Article in Brain stimulation. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Low intensity transcranial electric stimulation: Safety, ethical, legal regulatory and application guidelines (2017-2025: An update) - endorsed by the European Society for Brain Stimulation (ESBS) and by the International Federation for Clinical Neurophysiology (IFCN).Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026Review
- Effects of tDCS on Cognitive Function in MCAO/R Rats by Regulating Mitochondrial Autophagy Mediated by the PINK1/Parkin Signaling Pathway.Neurochemical research · 2026Article
- Understanding the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on the neurovascular unit: a narrative review.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2025Review
- Interactions between Guidance Cues and Neuronal Activity: Therapeutic Insights from Mouse Models.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Review
- Effects of central nervous system electrical stimulation on non-neuronal cells.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2022Review
- Transcranial electric stimulation modulates firing rate at clinically relevant intensities.Brain stimulationArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe neurophysiological effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are typically described with respect to changes in cortical excitability, defined by using transcranial magnetic stimulation pulses to determine changes in motor evoked potentials. However, how individual cortical neurons change firing patterns under the influence of tDCS is largely unknown. While the relatively weak currents produced in the brain by tDCS may not be adequate to directly depolarize neuronal membranes, ongoing neuronal activity, combined with subthreshold changes in membrane polarization might be sufficient to alter the threshold for neural firing.
objectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine the effects of tDCS on neurophysiological activity in motor cortex of freely moving, healthy rats.
methodsIn nine healthy, ambulatory rats, each studied under six different stimulation conditions varying in current intensity (maximum current density = 39.8 A/m
resultsAfter analysis of 480 multi-unit channels that satisfied a rigid set of neurophysiological criteria, we found no systematic effect of tDCS stimulation condition on firing rate or firing pattern. Restricting the analysis to the most responsive units, subtle, but statistically significant changes occurred only in the highest intensity anodal condition.
conclusionsThese results confirm that at current densities typically used in human or animal tDCS studies, observed effects of tDCS are likely to occur via mechanisms other than direct neuronal depolarization.
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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.