Modulating inhibitory control with direct current stimulation of the superior medial frontal cortex

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 56; no. 4; pp. 2249 - 2257
• Main Authors: Hsu, Tzu-Yu, Tseng, Lin-Yuan, Yu, Jia-Xin, Kuo, Wen-Jui, Hung, Daisy L., Tzeng, Ovid J.L., Walsh, Vincent, Muggleton, Neil G., Juan, Chi-Hung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.06.2011; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Animal behavior; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Councils; Electric Stimulation; Female; Frontal Lobe - physiology; Humans; Inhibition, Psychological; Inhibitory control; Male; Pre-SMA; Reaction Time - physiology; Signal processing; Stop signal task; Studies; tDCS; Young Adult; Stop signal task; Inhibitory control; Pre-SMA; tDCS
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.03.059

The executive control of voluntary action involves not only choosing from a range of possible actions but also the inhibition of responses as circumstances demand. Recent studies have demonstrated that many clinical populations, such as people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, exhibit difficulties in inhibitory control. One prefrontal area that has been particularly associated with inhibitory control is the pre-supplementary motor area (Pre-SMA). Here we applied non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over Pre-SMA to test its role in this behavior. tDCS allows for current to be applied in two directions to selectively excite or suppress the neural activity of Pre-SMA. Our results showed that anodal tDCS improved efficiency of inhibitory control. Conversely, cathodal tDCS showed a tendency towards impaired inhibitory control. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of non-invasive intervention tDCS altering subjects' inhibitory control. These results further our understanding of the neural bases of inhibitory control and suggest a possible therapeutic intervention method for clinical populations. ► Anodal tDCS over Pre-SMA improves the efficiency of inhibitory control. ► Cathodal tDCS over Pre-SMA decreases the efficiency of inhibitory control. ► The first study to demonstrate tDCS can alter inhibitory control bidirectionally. ► Providing further understanding of the neural basis of inhibitory control.