Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40090976›Full record

Trial reportScientific reports2025

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on pre-competitive cognitive performance and anxiety in collegiate athletes: a randomized controlled trial.

Rohita Joshi, Nidhi Sharma, Vandana Esht, Aksh Chahal, Mohammed Mansour Alshehri, Abdur Raheem Khan, Rashid Ali Beg, Mohammad Abu Shaphe, Masood Khan, Ahmad H Alghadir

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

Trial report in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
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

10 authors.

Rohita JoshiMaharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Haryana, India.
Nidhi SharmaMaharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Haryana, India.
Vandana EshtPhysical Therapy Department, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Aksh ChahalDepartment of Physiotherapy, School of Medical and Allied Health Science, Galgotias University, Dankaur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Mohammed Mansour AlshehriPhysical Therapy Department, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Abdur Raheem KhanDepartment of Physiotherapy, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Rashid Ali BegPhysical Therapy Department, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammad Abu ShaphePhysical Therapy Department, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Masood KhanRehabilitation Research Chair, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, 11433, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. raomasood22@gmail.com.
Ahmad H AlghadirRehabilitation Research Chair, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, 11433, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

King Saud University RSP2024R382
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sports is a broad field in which success demands a lot of practice and self-discipline. The pressure to perform best and the emotional turmoil of the situation may cause pre-competitive anxiety, hence affecting an athlete's cognitive functions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on pre-competitive anxiety and cognitive performance in collegiate athletes. Nineteen (Male:Female; 10:9) collegiate athletes from Haryana, India, aged 18-25 years, were recruited before a National level Inter-University competition in Volleyball discipline. Participants were randomly relocated 1:1 to experimental or control groups. The experimental group received two milliampere tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for 20 min, and the control group received a placebo (sham tDCS with current turned off after 30 s) for ten consecutive days. The outcome measures were Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scales, biofeedback analysis (E.M.G. biofeedback), Digit symbol substitute test (DSST) and Stroop colour and word test (SCWT) measured at baseline and post-treatment. From a total of 19 randomized athletes, 12 completed treatments and within-group analysis revealed a p value of < 0.05 of BAI, DSST, SCWT & E.M.G. biofeedback in the Experimental Group. Post-treatment, between-group analysis revealed significantly lower BAI (p < 0.05) and significantly higher SCWT, DSST and E.M.G. biofeedback (p < 0.05) values in the experimental group. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and advanced neurostimulation method for regulating anxiety and cognition, enhancing sports performance among collegiate athletes. The trial was registered at ctri.nic.in (CTRI/2020/06/025749).

Indexed as

AnxietyAthletesAthletic PerformanceCognitionTranscranial Direct Current StimulationAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleYoung AdultAnodal stimulation tDCSAthletesBiofeedbackCognitionPerformance anxiety

Identifiers

PMID40090976
PMCPMC11911436

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.