Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Impulsivity and Aggression in Elementary School Students With Dyslexia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background and Aims: Specific learning disabilities Based on the latest statistical diagnostic version of mental disorders, neurodevelopmental disorder of biological origin is considered, which causes abnormalities at the cognitive level. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on students’ impulsivity and aggression with a particular learning disorder. Methods: The present research method was a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of all male and female students in the second grade of elementary school with special learning disabilities was the type of reading in Tabriz. The study sample included 36 male and female students in the second year of elementary school with a learning disability. To select the sample, first from the 3rd district of Tabriz education, three primary schools for girls in the second year and three schools for boys in the second year were selected as a cluster. And their parents completed the consent form. Fourty five people were selected for targeted sampling and 36 of them were selected as the final sample by considering the entry and exit criteria as the final sample and randomly tested in two experimental groups. Particepents (18 in each group) were in test group and control group. Raven’s intelligence test, checklist of teacher dysfunction checklists (teacher form), Buss and Perry’s aggression questionnaire, and Barratt’s developmental scale were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance with SPSSsoftware 22 and the significance level was considered to be 0.05. Results: The results showed that Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation on aggression and impulsivity of children in both experimental and control groups was significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation is effective in reducing impulsivity and aggression in children with learning disabilities.