Abstract
Introduction: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) sends a weak electrical current through the cerebral cortex. tDCS has been shown to be effective in longer activities (>75s) but minimal research has been performed with short, anaerobic tests. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tDCS on Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) performance. Methods: Fifteen young, resistance-trained adults (23.7±2.7 years; BMI 24.9±2.6 kg×m-2; 12 males) volunteered for this study. Electrodes were placed at T3 and FP2 for anodal stimulation of the insular cortex (IC), and 2mA of current was supplied for 20 minutes; after a short rest period, subjects performed a WAnT. Dependent variables included peak/mean/relative power, peak heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Experimental and sham conditions were utilized. Paired-samples t-tests were used to determine the effect of tDCS on the dependent variables. Results: Peak power in the experimental condition (1,019.0±237.5W) was not different than that of the sham (1,008.3±240.4W; p=.638). There were no differences in any other WAnT variables, and no differences in peak HR or RPE (all p>.05). Conclusions: The results from this study suggest that tDCS in resistance-trained individuals is not effective in improving performance on an anaerobic test. In addition, it is still considered experimental and its ethical use is questionable.
Highlights
Transcranial direct current stimulation sends a weak electrical current through the cerebral cortex. tDCS has been shown to be effective in longer activities (>75s) but minimal research has been performed with short, Open Access anaerobic tests
Electrodes were placed at T3 and FP2 for anodal stimulation of the insular cortex (IC), and 2mA of current was supplied for 20 minutes; after a short rest period, subjects performed a Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT)
The results from this study suggest that tDCS in resistance-trained individuals is not effective in improving performance on an anaerobic test
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) sends a weak electrical current through the cerebral cortex. tDCS has been shown to be effective in longer activities (>75s) but minimal research has been performed with short, Open Access anaerobic tests. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) sends a weak electrical current through the cerebral cortex. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique in which a weak electrical current of ~1-2 mA is sent through the cerebral cortex using electrodes placed on the scalp. This small amount of current, roughly equivalent to ISSN: 2768-5187 that of a 9-volt battery, is believed to increase excitability of the underlying neurons in the stimulated area by altering the resting membrane potential 1. In the past 20 years it has been used extensively with various populations and for many different
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