Stimulating learning: A functional MRI and behavioral investigation of the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on stochastic learning in schizophrenia

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is under clinical investi-gation as a treatment for cognitive deficits. We investigate the effects of tDCS over the mPFC on performance SSLT in individuals with schizophrenia, and the underlying neurophysiological effect in regions associated with learning values and stimulus-outcome relationships. In this parallel-design double-blind pilot study, 49 in-dividuals with schizophrenia, of whom 28 completed a fMRI, were randomized into active or sham tDCS stim-ulation groups. Subjects participated in 4 days of SSLT training (days 1, 2, 14, 56) with tDCS applied at day-1, and during a concurrent MRI scan at day-14. The SSLT demonstrated a significant mean difference in perfor-mance in the tDCS treatment group: at day-2 and at day-56. Active tDCS was associated with increased insular activity, and reduced amygdala activation. tDCS may offer an important novel approach to modulating brain networks to ameliorate cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, with this study being the first to show a longer-term effect on SSLT.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) on cognitive performance and underlying neurophysiological effects in individuals with schizophrenia. The results showed that tDCS significantly improved performance in the SSLT task, and was associated with increased insular activity and reduced amygdala activation.