Comparison between conventional and HD-tDCS of the right inferior frontal gyrus in children and adolescents with ADHD. Issue 5 (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Breitling, Carolin; Zaehle, Tino; Dannhauer, Moritz; Tegelbeckers, Jana; Flechtner, Hans-Henning; Krauel, Kerstin
• Is Part Of: Clinical neurophysiology. Volume 131:Issue 5(2020:May)
• Page Start: 1146
• Page End: 1154
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) -- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) -- High definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) -- Working memory -- Right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) -- n-back task; ANOVA analysis of variance -- ADHD attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -- EEG electroencephalography -- ERP event related potential -- HD-tDCS high definition transcranial direct current stimulation -- IFG inferior frontal gyrus -- tDCS transcranial direct current stimulation -- WM working memory; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Electroencephalography -- Periodicals; Electromyography -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2019.12.412
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-2457

Abstract

Highlights: Working memory related P300 and N200 mean amplitudes showed more positive values after tDCS. Behavioral performance was not generally influenced by tDCS. Behavioral effects of HD-tDCS depended on the hyperactive/impulsive symptom load. Abstract: Objective: To investigate whether the effects of HD-tDCS and conventional tDCS of the right IFG are superior to the effects of sham stimulation for the improvement of working memory performance in ADHD. Methods: 15 ADHD patients between 10 and 16 years underwent three tDCS sessions in which conventional, HD and sham tDCS of the right IFG were applied. In all sessions a 2-back working memory task was solved and EEG was recorded. Baseline data were assessed from 15 age matched healthy controls. Results: In ADHD patients, increased positive values of P300 and N200 mean amplitudes were found after conventional and HD-tDCS. Thus, both components were more in resemblance to ERPs in healthy controls. Behavioral performance was not generally influenced by tDCS but effects of HD-tDCS depended on individual hyperactive/impulsive symptom load. The rate of responders for HD-tDCS was equivalent to the responder rate for conventional tDCS. Conclusions: ERP data indicate that HD-tDCS is equally suitable as conventional tDCS for the recruitment of the right IFG in the context of working memory processing. Significance: HD-tDCS of the right IFG is a promising approach for neuromodulation in ADHD but further research is necessary to develop adaptations that produce reliable behavioral benefits.