The effect of computerized cognitive training and transcranial direct current stimulation on working memory among post-stroke individuals: a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression

• Published in: BMC neurology Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 314 - 14
• Main Authors: Kazinczi, Csaba, Kocsis, Krisztián, Boross, Katalin, Racsmány, Mihály, Klivényi, Péter, Vécsei, László, Must, Anita
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 04.09.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Analysis; Brain stimulation; Care and treatment; Causes of; Clinical medicine; Clinical trials; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - methods; Cognitive load; Cognitive Training; Comparative analysis; Complications and side effects; Computer-based; Electrical stimulation of the brain; ESB; Evaluation; Exercise; Humans; Intelligence tests; Memory; Memory Disorders - etiology; Memory Disorders - rehabilitation; Memory Disorders - therapy; Memory, Disorders of; Memory, Short-Term - physiology; Meta-analysis; Neuropsychology; Patient outcomes; Quality control; Rehabilitation; Short-term memory; Stroke; Stroke (Disease); Stroke - complications; Stroke - psychology; Stroke - therapy; Stroke Rehabilitation - methods; Systematic Review; tDCS; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation - methods; Working memory; Hungary; Systematic review; Cognitive training; Stroke; Computer-based; Working memory; tDCS
• ISSN: 1471-2377; 1471-2377
• DOI: 10.1186/s12883-024-03813-x

Working memory (WM) impairment is a common phenomenon after stroke; however, its management in rehabilitation is less researched. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide a quantitative synthesis of the impact of computerised cognitive training (CCT) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on WM span in post-stroke individuals. The literature search in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library focused on randomized controlled trials testing the effect of CCT and tDCS on treated stroke patients as compared to untreated controls. Neuropsychological instruments such as Digit Span Forward/Backward and Visual Span Forward Tests defined the outcome of WM span. After extracting study characteristics and quality assessment using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, we conducted a meta-analysis and meta-regression using standardised mean differences. The search yielded 4142 articles, nine of which (N = 461) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In the case of CCT, we found significant improvement in Digit Span Backward Test (Z = 2.65, P = 0.008; 95% CI [0.10, 0.67]) and Visual Span Forward Test performance (Z = 3.05, P = 0.002; 95% CI [0.15, 0.69]), while for tDCS, we could not find a sufficient number of studies for the analysis. Furthermore, no significant moderating factor was found in the meta-regression. In conclusion, CCT appears to be a suitable choice to enhance WM span performance after stroke. However, further research is needed to investigate the effect of tDCS due to the limited number of studies. The meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) standards with a PROSPERO registration protocol (ID: CRD42023387182).