Abstract
Background
Cutaneous sensations at electrode sites during the administration of direct current
brain stimulation may inadvertently influence participants' subjective experience
and task performance.
Objective
The present study evaluated the utility of a methodological variation that substitutes
sham administration with very low intensity (0.5 mA) current delivery.
Methods
We used a 4 × 1 high-definition ring electrode transcranial direct current (HD-tDCS)
system to target the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann's Area 9). Four
stimulation conditions were compared in a repeated-measures design: sham 2.0 mA and
0.5 mA intensity, versus active 2.0 mA and 0.5 mA intensity. During stimulation participants
performed a cognitive interference task that activates the cingulo-frontal-parietal
network, and periodically provided perceived sensation ratings.
Results
We demonstrate that a relatively low intensity control condition attenuates otherwise
large differences in perceived sensation between active and sham conditions. Critically,
behavioral task differences maintained between the two active conditions.
Conclusion
A low intensity control stimulation condition may prove a viable methodological alternative
to conventional sham techniques used in repeated-measures designs, though important
limitations are discussed.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 26, 2014
Accepted:
September 19,
2014
Received in revised form:
September 18,
2014
Received:
August 10,
2014
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
