The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) during sleep on affect and alertness
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Citation
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have identified how transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatment during sleep could be used in the management of psychiatric disorders. However, inconsistencies persist regarding changes in mood and alertness on participants resulting from administration of tDCS treatment.
METHODS: In this crossover, counter-balanced study, healthy participants were given both stimulation and sham tDCS treatment during two separate two-hour nap sessions as a part of a larger clinically-oriented trial. This pilot analysis tracked changes in mood and alertness based on scores from the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), respectively. These were measured before and after completion of a two-hour stimulation nap and a two-hour sham nap.
RESULTS: Positive and negative affect scores on the PANAS both saw a significant decrease in the sham nap condition. There was no significant change in affect measures pre- to post-stimulation nap. However, stimulation nap sessions found a similar inhibition in positive and negative affect scores, as no significance in magnitude was found between the sham and stimulation nap sessions. There were no significant changes in alertness as measured by the SSS.
CONCLUSION: In summation, there was a significant reduction in positive and negative affect scores during the sham nap with no significant difference in magnitude found during the stimulation nap. While a sample size of fourteen participants limits generalizability, the within-subjects design provides a valid framework for data consideration from this pilot study. Therefore, more efforts should be directed towards investigating changes in mood and alertness resulting from tDCS treatment during sleep. Continued enrollment of both healthy and patient populations must be evaluated for shifts in positive and negative affect because of the application of tDCS during sleep.
Description
2024