Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Bilateral Ankle-Dorsiflexion Force Control in Healthy Young Adults

This study examined transient effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on bilateral force control in lower extremities. We recruited 14 healthy young adults and administered bilateral ankle-dorsiflexion force control tasks at 10% of maximal voluntary contraction. Participants were a...

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Main Authors: Hajun Lee, Beom Jin Choi, Nyeonju Kang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4391
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author Hajun Lee
Beom Jin Choi
Nyeonju Kang
author_facet Hajun Lee
Beom Jin Choi
Nyeonju Kang
author_sort Hajun Lee
collection DOAJ
description This study examined transient effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on bilateral force control in lower extremities. We recruited 14 healthy young adults and administered bilateral ankle-dorsiflexion force control tasks at 10% of maximal voluntary contraction. Participants were able to use real-time visual information on a targeted force level and forces produced by both feet. While performing bilateral force control, we provided active- and sham-tDCS in a random order. Bilateral tDCS protocol used for this study included anodal and cathodal stimulation targeting left and right leg areas of the primary motor cortex between hemispheres. Bilateral force control capabilities were estimated by calculating force accuracy, variability and regularity. In addition, we determined whether force control patterns differed between feet across active- and sham-tDCS conditions. The findings revealed that force accuracy and variability were significantly improved after applying active-tDCS protocol as compared with those for sham-tDCS condition. However, no differences in force control between feet were observed. These findings suggest that bilateral tDCS protocols may be a viable option for improving motor functions of lower limbs.
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spelling doaj-art-ddd04702db504aec857ce9bf0d9410852025-08-20T02:17:24ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01158439110.3390/app15084391Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Bilateral Ankle-Dorsiflexion Force Control in Healthy Young AdultsHajun Lee0Beom Jin Choi1Nyeonju Kang2Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of KoreaThis study examined transient effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on bilateral force control in lower extremities. We recruited 14 healthy young adults and administered bilateral ankle-dorsiflexion force control tasks at 10% of maximal voluntary contraction. Participants were able to use real-time visual information on a targeted force level and forces produced by both feet. While performing bilateral force control, we provided active- and sham-tDCS in a random order. Bilateral tDCS protocol used for this study included anodal and cathodal stimulation targeting left and right leg areas of the primary motor cortex between hemispheres. Bilateral force control capabilities were estimated by calculating force accuracy, variability and regularity. In addition, we determined whether force control patterns differed between feet across active- and sham-tDCS conditions. The findings revealed that force accuracy and variability were significantly improved after applying active-tDCS protocol as compared with those for sham-tDCS condition. However, no differences in force control between feet were observed. These findings suggest that bilateral tDCS protocols may be a viable option for improving motor functions of lower limbs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4391ankle dorsiflexionforce controltranscranial direct current stimulationlower limbhealthy young adult
spellingShingle Hajun Lee
Beom Jin Choi
Nyeonju Kang
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Bilateral Ankle-Dorsiflexion Force Control in Healthy Young Adults
Applied Sciences
ankle dorsiflexion
force control
transcranial direct current stimulation
lower limb
healthy young adult
title Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Bilateral Ankle-Dorsiflexion Force Control in Healthy Young Adults
title_full Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Bilateral Ankle-Dorsiflexion Force Control in Healthy Young Adults
title_fullStr Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Bilateral Ankle-Dorsiflexion Force Control in Healthy Young Adults
title_full_unstemmed Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Bilateral Ankle-Dorsiflexion Force Control in Healthy Young Adults
title_short Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Bilateral Ankle-Dorsiflexion Force Control in Healthy Young Adults
title_sort transcranial direct current stimulation improves bilateral ankle dorsiflexion force control in healthy young adults
topic ankle dorsiflexion
force control
transcranial direct current stimulation
lower limb
healthy young adult
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4391
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AT beomjinchoi transcranialdirectcurrentstimulationimprovesbilateralankledorsiflexionforcecontrolinhealthyyoungadults
AT nyeonjukang transcranialdirectcurrentstimulationimprovesbilateralankledorsiflexionforcecontrolinhealthyyoungadults