ArticleFrontiers in physiology2025
Multifocal tDCS targeting lower-limb cortical areas preserves late-stage endurance and tunes phase-specific coordination during incremental cycling.
Article in Frontiers in physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation (m-tDCS) may modulate distributed motor networks in a polarity-dependent and task-state-dependent manner to support performance near exhaustion. To this end, this study aims to test whether m-tDCS targeting lower-limb-specific cortical areas could optimize late-stage performance and phase-specific muscle coordination during cycling. Methods: Two independent trials were conducted: (i) a tolerability assessment (Trial 1) and (ii) a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled parallel study (Trial 2). In Trial 1, participants completed the tolerability test and recorded pain and side effects during a 21-min stimulation period. In Trial 2, healthy adults completed an incremental cycling test; late-stage performance was operationalized Results: (1) m-tDCS was well-tolerated; pain ratings declined progressively across the stimulation, with typical transient sensations. (2) At the 85%-100% PPO phase, m-tDCS increased W and RPM relative to sham without altering the mean power or ΔL; HR decreased after m-tDCS, and RPE rose only after sham. (3) At the coordination level, m-tDCS preserved quadriceps MCR during propulsion and reduced antagonistic activation during pull to prevent the CAI increase observed in the sham. Conclusion: m-tDCS did not augment peak mechanical output but preserved late-stage endurance via phase-specific coordination tuning, which is consistent with improved neural efficiency near exhaustion. These findings refine mechanistic interpretations of the effects of tDCS on endurance and support m-tDCS as a safe, coordination-centric adjunct for high-intensity cycling.
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