Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used as an adjunct therapy for psychiatric disorders; however, little is known about the underlying neurophysiological effects of tDCS in Internet gaming disorder (IGD). We investigated the effects of tDCS on cortical activity using resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) in patients with IGD. This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled parallel group study of tDCS (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03347643) included 31 IGD patients. Participants received 10 sessions (2 sessions per day for 5 consecutive days) of active repetitive tDCS (2 mA for 20 min per session) or sham stimulation. Anode/cathode electrodes were placed over the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, respectively. In total, 26 participants (active group n = 14; sham group n = 12) completed the trial. Resting-state EEG spectral activity (absolute power) and functional connectivity (coherence) were used to assess the effects of tDCS on cortical activity before stimulation and 1 month after the intervention. Active stimulation of tDCS suppressed increase of intra-hemispheric beta coherence after 1 month, which was observed in the sham group. The 1-month follow-up assessment revealed that absolute gamma power in the left parietal region was decreased in the active group relative to the sham group. Our findings suggest that repetitive tDCS stabilizes fast-wave activity in IGD.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
