tES Case Uses & Applications

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) techniques can be combined with cognitive therapies in order to improve attention and memory in subjects suffering from memory disorders - such as those with brain injury or imbalances in neurochemical transmitters, or even to improve working memory in elderly populations

Indicative Reading:
tDCS-induced episodic memory enhancement and its association with functional network coupling in older adults. Daria Antonenko, Dayana Hayek, Justus Netzband, Ulrike Grittner, and Agnes Flöel. Scientific Reports. February 2019.

Following a stroke, some patients may suffer from a disturbance of speech production or comprehension, with communication being extremely difficult or impossible in severe cases.

tDCS can be applied across the affected speech centre in order to improve speech production ability, with a number of recent studies showing sustainable improvements through anodal tDCS over the motor cortex. In aphasia treatment, combination with speech therapy is recommended.

Indicative Reading:
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for improving aphasia after stroke: a systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Bernhard Elsner, Joachim Kugler, Jan Mehrholz. J Neuroeng Rehabil. July 2020.

A large bank of studies exploring the treatment of chronic pain associated with common conditions such as fibromyalgia, migraine, postoperative and neuropathic pain have revealed that tDCS treatment involving anodal stimulation over the motor cortex has been found to reduce the patient’s perceived pain after just a small number of sessions.

Indicative Reading:
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and its influence on analgesics effectiveness in patients suffering from migraine headache. Anna Przeklasa-Muszyńska, Magdalena Kocot-Kępska, Jan Dobrogowski, Maciej Wiatr, Joanna Mika. Pharmacological Reports. August 2017.

In patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, the application of individualised tACS protocols in conjunction with traditional physical therapy techniques has been shown to alleviate the individual’s symptoms, both lowering severity of tremor and improving cognitive performance.

Indicative Reading:
Personalized transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and physical therapy to treat motor and cognitive symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A randomized cross-over trial. Alessandra Del Felice, Leonora Castiglia, Emanuela Formaggio, Manuela Cattelan, Bruno Scarpa, Paolo Manganotti, Elena Tenconi, and Stefano Masiero. Neuroimage Clinical. 2019.

tES has been used extensively in the treatment of depression. Research into the cause of depression has pointed towards asymmetric activity of neuronal populations in the prefrontal cortex, often in the form of decreased neuronal activity in the left hemisphere.

Through the application of anodal left side tDCS (pictured) the asymmetric activity can be corrected, resulting in improved cognitive performance followed by antidepressant effects with around 2-3 weeks of treatment.

Indicative Reading:

Double-blind, randomized pilot clinical trial targeting alpha oscillations with transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Morgan L. Alexander, Sankaraleengam Alagapan, Courtney E. Lugo, Juliann M. Mellin, Caroline Lustenberger, David R. Rubinow & Flavio Fröhlich. Translational Psychiatry. March 2019.

tDCS can be used in patients with schizophrenia to help reduce the severity of auditory hallucinations that are perceived by 50-70% of patients after a small number of stimulation sessions, with lasting effects induced by longer treatment periods.

Indicative Reading:

Using prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance proactive cognitive control in schizophrenia. Megan A Boudewyn, Katherine Scangos, Charan Ranganath, Cameron S Carter. Neuropsychopharmacology. June 2020.

Research into the causes of addiction have observed that there is often a disturbed cognitive control in relation to cravings and the consumption of addictive substances, indicated by a change in DLPFC activity. By stimulating this area of the brain, risk-taking behaviour and cravings can be reduced.

Indicative Reading:

Multiple Sessions of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Reduced Craving and Relapses for Alcohol Use: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial in Alcohol Use Disorder. Jaisa Klauss, Quézia S. Anders, Luna V. Felippe, Michael A. Nitsche and Ester M. Nakamura-Palacios. Frontiers in Pharmacology. July 2018.