Journal
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
NATURE PORTFOLIO
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95639-7
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Funding
- Swiss National Science Foundation [SNF P2GEP1_188266]
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) [P2GEP1_188266] Funding Source: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
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The study found that tDCS through stimulation of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex can increase effort exerted by participants during working-memory tasks. Specifically, anodal stimulation resulted in greater effort, while effort was lower under cathodal and sham conditions.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has shown that stimulation of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) facilitates task performance in working-memory tasks. However, little is known about its potential effects on effort. This study examined whether tDCS affects effort during a working-memory task. Participants received anodal, cathodal and sham stimulation over DLPFC across three sessions before carrying out a 2-back task. During the task, effort-related cardiovascular measures were recorded-especially the Initial Systolic Time Interval (ISTI). Results showed that anodal stimulation produced a shorter ISTI, indicating a greater effort compared to cathodal and sham conditions, where effort was lower. These findings demonstrate that anodal stimulation helps participants to maintain engagement in a highly demanding task (by increasing task mastery), without which they would otherwise disengage. This study is the first to show that tDCS impacts the extent of effort engaged by individuals during a difficult task.
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