Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive type of stimulation that uses low intensity Anodic and Cathodic currents modifying the cortical excitability. Previous studies showed that the use of this technique associated with a cognitive training represents a valid alternative to pharmacological treatments in patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The goal of the present pilot study will be to investigate the effect of the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with cognitive training in tree adolescents with an attention deficit and its outcomes specifically on inhibitory control, executive control, working memory and impulsivity functions in. Participants underwent twelve days of training with anodic and cathodic stimulation of 1.5 mA for 15 minutes and 2 mA for 20 minutes at each session. The participants went through Go / No-Go task, N-back test, Stroop task and Flanker task before and after each tDCS condition and during the stimulation they have carried out a cognitive training with two tools. Results show, in one subject, an actual improvement in cognitive functions, demonstrated by an increase in scores during the various tests administered. In the other subject, a partial improvement in cognitive functions emerged, demonstrated by a slight increase in the scores in the tests administered. These results suggest that activity-specific stimulation protocols could reduce impulsivity, inhibitory and executive control deficits and improve neuropsychological functioning in subjects with attention difficulties. Future studies should follow this way to demonstrate the efficacy of tDCS combined with cognitive training as a treatment tool for psychiatric diseases and their support to traditional therapies (e.g. drugs or psychotherapy).
La stimolazione transcranica a corrente continua (tDCS) è una tipologia di stimolazione non invasiva che utilizza correnti Anodiche e Catodiche a bassa intensità modificando l’eccitabilità corticale. L’utilizzo di questa tecnica associata a quella di un training cognitivo è stato dimostrato essere, in studi precedenti, una valida alternativa ai trattamenti farmacologici nei pazienti con disturbo da decifit di attenzione e iperattività (ADHD). L’obiettivo di questo studio pilota sarà quello di valutare gli effetti sulle funzioni di controllo inibitorio, controllo esecutivo, working memory e impulsività attraverso l’uso di training abbinato ad una stimolazione transcranica a corrente continua in tre soggetti con difficoltà dell’attenzione. I partecipanti hanno effettuato un training di 12 giorni con una stimolazione anodica e catodica di 1.5 mA per 15 minuti e 2 mA per 20 minuti ad ogni sessione. Sono stati sottoposti all'attività Go / No-Go, test N-back, test Stroop e Flanker task prima e dopo ogni condizione tDCS e durante la stimolazione hanno svolto un training cognitivo attraverso l’utilizzo di due strumenti. I risultati mostrano, in un soggetto, un miglioramento effettivo delle funzioni cognitive, dimostrato da un incremento dei punteggi nei diversi test somministrati. Nell’altro soggetto è emerso un miglioramento parziale delle funzioni cognitive, dimostrato da un leggero incremento dei punteggi nei test somministrati. Questi risultati suggeriscono che i protocolli di stimolazione specifici per attività possono ridurre l’impulsività, i deficit del controllo inibitorio ed esecutivo e migliorare il funzionamento neuropsicologico nei soggetti con una difficoltà dell’attenzione. Studi futuri dovrebbero seguire questa linea per dimostrare l’efficacia della tDCS associata al training come strumento di cura per le diverse patologie psichiatriche ed il suo affiancamento alle terapie tradizionali (ad esempio farmaci o psicoterapia).
L’uso della neurostimolazione abbinata al training in soggetti adolescenti con difficoltà dell’attenzione: uno studio pilota.
PATRONE, LUDOVICA
2019/2020
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive type of stimulation that uses low intensity Anodic and Cathodic currents modifying the cortical excitability. Previous studies showed that the use of this technique associated with a cognitive training represents a valid alternative to pharmacological treatments in patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The goal of the present pilot study will be to investigate the effect of the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with cognitive training in tree adolescents with an attention deficit and its outcomes specifically on inhibitory control, executive control, working memory and impulsivity functions in. Participants underwent twelve days of training with anodic and cathodic stimulation of 1.5 mA for 15 minutes and 2 mA for 20 minutes at each session. The participants went through Go / No-Go task, N-back test, Stroop task and Flanker task before and after each tDCS condition and during the stimulation they have carried out a cognitive training with two tools. Results show, in one subject, an actual improvement in cognitive functions, demonstrated by an increase in scores during the various tests administered. In the other subject, a partial improvement in cognitive functions emerged, demonstrated by a slight increase in the scores in the tests administered. These results suggest that activity-specific stimulation protocols could reduce impulsivity, inhibitory and executive control deficits and improve neuropsychological functioning in subjects with attention difficulties. Future studies should follow this way to demonstrate the efficacy of tDCS combined with cognitive training as a treatment tool for psychiatric diseases and their support to traditional therapies (e.g. drugs or psychotherapy).È consentito all'utente scaricare e condividere i documenti disponibili a testo pieno in UNITESI UNIPV nel rispetto della licenza Creative Commons del tipo CC BY NC ND.
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14239/138