Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42191903›Full record

Trial reportEuropean journal of applied physiology2026

Modulation of prefrontal functional connectivity by tDCS over the left DLPFC predicts performance enhancement in swimmers: a simultaneous tDCS-fNIRS, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover study.

Toru Ishihara, Shoki Kiyokawa, Haruki Tajimi, Shinnosuke Hashimoto, Tongfang Ding, Kazuki Hyodo, Haruto Takagishi, Tetsuya Matsuda

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in European journal of applied physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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. Review
  2. Review
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

8 authors.

Toru IshiharaGraduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan. tishihara@people.kobe-u.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3544-6822
Shoki KiyokawaFaculty of Global Human Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.
Haruki TajimiFaculty of Global Human Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.
Shinnosuke HashimotoGraduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
Tongfang DingGraduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
Kazuki HyodoPhysical Fitness Research Institute, Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2976-1351
Haruto TakagishiTamagawa University Brain Science Institute, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5143-9289
Tetsuya MatsudaTamagawa University Brain Science Institute, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1831-8311

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeWhile transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as a method to enhance physical performance in athletes, the underlying neural mechanisms and the reasons for the widely reported individual variability in its effects remain unclear. This study investigated whether prefrontal hemodynamic responses, measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), are associated with the effects of anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on swimming performance.

methodsIn a double-blind, sham-controlled, crossover design, eight trained male swimmers performed 100 m freestyle trials after receiving anodal tDCS or sham stimulation. We recorded prefrontal cortical activation and functional connectivity using fNIRS during a resting-state period and a subsequent stimulation period.

resultsWhile tDCS administered prior to the 100 m freestyle swim led to a numerical improvement in performance compared with the sham condition, the overall effect was not statistically significant. The fNIRS analyses revealed that tDCS significantly reduced functional connectivity, especially in the stimulated left prefrontal cortex. Greater reductions in functional connectivity were associated with larger performance improvements. Exploratory analyses further suggested that baseline functional connectivity may be related to the neural response to tDCS, with higher baseline connectivity associated with greater reductions during stimulation.

conclusionAnodal tDCS over the left DLPFC may be associated with decreased prefrontal functional connectivity and changes in physical performance. Baseline functional connectivity may be relevant to individual responsiveness to tDCS, although further research is required.

Indexed as

Athletic PerformanceDorsolateral Prefrontal CortexPrefrontal CortexSwimmingTranscranial Direct Current StimulationCross-Over StudiesDouble-Blind MethodHumansMaleSpectroscopy, Near-InfraredYoung AdultAthletic performanceIndividual variabilityNeural efficiencyNeuromodulationPrefrontal cortex

Identifiers

PMID42191903

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.