scholarly journals Optimizing Electrode Montages of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Attentional Bias Modification in Early Abstinent Methamphetamine Users

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Shahbabaie ◽  
Javad Hatami ◽  
Ali Farhoudian ◽  
Hamed Ekhtiari ◽  
Ali Khatibi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Attentional Bias Modification ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Bias Modification

scholarly journals Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Augments the Effects of Gamified, Mobile Attention Bias Modification

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Myruski ◽  
Hyein Cho ◽  
Marom Bikson ◽  
Tracy A. Dennis-Tiwary
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Attention Bias ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Sinus Arrhythmia ◽  
Stress Resilience ◽  
Attention Bias Modification ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Bias Modification

Anxiety-related attention bias (AB) is the preferential processing of threat observed in clinical and sub-clinical anxiety. Attention bias modification training (ABMT) is a computerized cognitive training technique designed to systematically direct attention away from threat and ameliorate AB, but mixed and null findings have highlighted gaps in our understanding of mechanisms underlying ABMT and how to design the most effective delivery systems. One neuromodulation technique, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) across the pre-frontal cortex (PFC) may augment the effects of ABMT by strengthening top-down cognitive control processes, but the evidence base is limited and has not been generalized to current approaches in digital therapeutics, such as mobile applications. The present study was a single-blind randomized sham-controlled design. We tested whether tDCS across the PFC, vs. sham stimulation, effectively augments the beneficial effects of a gamified ABMT mobile app. Thirty-eight adults (Mage = 23.92, SD = 4.75; 18 females) evidencing low-to-moderate anxiety symptoms were randomly assigned to active or sham tDCS for 30-min while receiving ABMT via a mobile app. Participants reported on potential moderators of ABMT, including life stress and trait anxiety. ECG was recorded during a subsequent stressor to generate respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) suppression as a metric of stress resilience. ABMT delivered via the app combined with tDCS (compared to sham) reduced AB and boosted stress resilience measured via RSA suppression, particularly for those reporting low life stress. Our results integrating tDCS with ABMT provide insight into the mechanisms of AB modulation and support ongoing evaluations of enhanced ABMT reliability and effectiveness via tDCS.

scholarly journals Combining cognitive bias modification training (CBM) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to treat binge eating disorder: study protocol of a randomised controlled feasibility trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e030023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Gordon ◽  
Timo Brockmeyer ◽  
Ulrike Schmidt ◽  
Iain C Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Binge Eating ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Binge Eating Disorder ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Approach Bias ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Bias Modification

IntroductionBinge eating disorder (BED) is a common mental disorder, closely associated with obesity. Existing treatments are only moderately effective with high relapse rates, necessitating novel interventions. This paper describes the rationale for, and protocol of, a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT), evaluating the combination of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and a computerised cognitive training, namely approach bias modification training (ABM), in patients with BED who are overweight or obese. The aim of this trial is to obtain information that will guide decision-making and protocol development in relation to a future large-scale RCT of combined tDCS+ABM treatment in this group of patients, and also to assess the preliminary efficacy of this intervention.Methods and analysis66 participants with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 diagnosis of BED and a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 kg/m2will be randomly allocated to one of three groups: ABM+real tDCS; ABM+sham tDCS or a wait-list control group. Participants in both intervention groups will receive six sessions of ABM+real/sham tDCS over 3 weeks; engaging in the ABM task while simultaneously receiving bilateral tDCS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. ABM is based on an implicit learning paradigm in which participants are trained to enact an avoidance behaviour in response to visual food cues. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-treatment (3 weeks) and follow-up (7 weeks post-randomisation). Feasibility outcomes assess recruitment and retention rates, acceptability of random allocation, blinding success (allocation concealment), completion of treatment sessions and research assessments. Other outcomes include eating disorder psychopathology and related neurocognitive outcomes (ie, delay of gratification and inhibitory control), BMI, other psychopathology (ie, mood), approach bias towards food and surrogate endpoints (ie, food cue reactivity, trait food craving and food intake).Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the North West-Liverpool East Research Ethics Committee. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberISRCTN35717198

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