Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training improves two executive functions: Cognitive flexibility and information updating after traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often causes persistent deficits in cognitive flexibility and information updating. Cognitive flexibility refers to the brain's ability to adjust its thinking and behavior in response to changing circumstances, whereas information updating is the process of incorpor...
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Elsevier
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Acta Psychologica |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824004311 |
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| author | Fatemeh Afsharian Razieh Khorram Abadi Reza Taheri Saeid Abbasi Sarajehlou |
| author_facet | Fatemeh Afsharian Razieh Khorram Abadi Reza Taheri Saeid Abbasi Sarajehlou |
| author_sort | Fatemeh Afsharian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often causes persistent deficits in cognitive flexibility and information updating. Cognitive flexibility refers to the brain's ability to adjust its thinking and behavior in response to changing circumstances, whereas information updating is the process of incorporating new facts into current knowledge. Both cognitive flexibility and information updating are critical components of executive function, and their impairment can have a major influence on a person's capacity to operate independently and adjust to life's problems following a TBI. Understanding and addressing these specific cognitive processes is therefore critical in designing successful therapies for TBI patients. Previous studies have examined the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation and cognitive training separately. This study investigated the effects of combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with computer-based cognitive training, comparing this combined intervention against a control group with no treatment, to assess improvements in two executive functions in TBI patients: cognitive flexibility and information updating. Thirty TBI patients, 2–12 weeks post-injury with impaired executive dysfunction, were randomized to an experimental or control group. The experimental group received ten 30-minute sessions over 2 weeks of anodal (A-tDCS), 2.0 mA to the prefrontal cortex while performing cognitive training tasks from the RehaCom software. The control group received no intervention during this period. Cognitive flexibility and information updating were assessed before and after the intervention period using the n-back working memory task, Wisconsin Sorting Card Test, and quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) during eyes-closed state. Statistically significant differences in theta, alpha, beta, and gamma band power were observed between groups (p < .05, 4 < f < 6). Secondary outcomes indicated significant improvements in cognitive flexibility within Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and information updating performance within n-back task (p < .05, 7 < f < 20). The combination of tDCS and cognitive training may improve cognitive flexibility and information updating in TBI patients by enhancing plasticity and connectivity in prefrontal regions involved in these complex cognitive processes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6325f267be3442c38be19eaf2654fc72 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0001-6918 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Psychologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-6325f267be3442c38be19eaf2654fc722025-08-20T02:13:22ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182024-10-0125010455310.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104553Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training improves two executive functions: Cognitive flexibility and information updating after traumatic brain injuryFatemeh Afsharian0Razieh Khorram Abadi1Reza Taheri2Saeid Abbasi Sarajehlou3Master of General Psychology, Persian Gulf University of Bushehr, Bushehr, IranClinical Psychology, Persian Gulf University of Bushehr, Bushehr, Iran; Corresponding author at: Clinical Psychology, Persian Gulf University of Bushehr, Bushehr 7516913817, Iran.Neurosurgery, Shiraz Neurosurgery Department, School of Medicine, SUMS, Iran; Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz Trauma Research Center, IranMaster of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, IranTraumatic brain injury (TBI) often causes persistent deficits in cognitive flexibility and information updating. Cognitive flexibility refers to the brain's ability to adjust its thinking and behavior in response to changing circumstances, whereas information updating is the process of incorporating new facts into current knowledge. Both cognitive flexibility and information updating are critical components of executive function, and their impairment can have a major influence on a person's capacity to operate independently and adjust to life's problems following a TBI. Understanding and addressing these specific cognitive processes is therefore critical in designing successful therapies for TBI patients. Previous studies have examined the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation and cognitive training separately. This study investigated the effects of combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with computer-based cognitive training, comparing this combined intervention against a control group with no treatment, to assess improvements in two executive functions in TBI patients: cognitive flexibility and information updating. Thirty TBI patients, 2–12 weeks post-injury with impaired executive dysfunction, were randomized to an experimental or control group. The experimental group received ten 30-minute sessions over 2 weeks of anodal (A-tDCS), 2.0 mA to the prefrontal cortex while performing cognitive training tasks from the RehaCom software. The control group received no intervention during this period. Cognitive flexibility and information updating were assessed before and after the intervention period using the n-back working memory task, Wisconsin Sorting Card Test, and quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) during eyes-closed state. Statistically significant differences in theta, alpha, beta, and gamma band power were observed between groups (p < .05, 4 < f < 6). Secondary outcomes indicated significant improvements in cognitive flexibility within Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and information updating performance within n-back task (p < .05, 7 < f < 20). The combination of tDCS and cognitive training may improve cognitive flexibility and information updating in TBI patients by enhancing plasticity and connectivity in prefrontal regions involved in these complex cognitive processes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824004311tDCSqEEGTBIRehaCom |
| spellingShingle | Fatemeh Afsharian Razieh Khorram Abadi Reza Taheri Saeid Abbasi Sarajehlou Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training improves two executive functions: Cognitive flexibility and information updating after traumatic brain injury Acta Psychologica tDCS qEEG TBI RehaCom |
| title | Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training improves two executive functions: Cognitive flexibility and information updating after traumatic brain injury |
| title_full | Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training improves two executive functions: Cognitive flexibility and information updating after traumatic brain injury |
| title_fullStr | Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training improves two executive functions: Cognitive flexibility and information updating after traumatic brain injury |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training improves two executive functions: Cognitive flexibility and information updating after traumatic brain injury |
| title_short | Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training improves two executive functions: Cognitive flexibility and information updating after traumatic brain injury |
| title_sort | transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training improves two executive functions cognitive flexibility and information updating after traumatic brain injury |
| topic | tDCS qEEG TBI RehaCom |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824004311 |
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