Cathodal HD-tDCS on the right V5 improves motion perception in humans

Zito, Giuseppe Angelo; Senti, Theresa; Cazzoli, Dario; Müri, René Martin; Mosimann, Urs Peter; Nyffeler, Thomas; Nef, Tobias (2015). Cathodal HD-tDCS on the right V5 improves motion perception in humans. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 9(257), p. 257. Frontiers Research Foundation 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00257

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Brain lesions in the visual associative cortex are known to impair visual perception, i.e., the capacity to correctly perceive different aspects of the visual world, such as motion, color, or shapes. Visual perception can be influenced by non-invasive brain stimulation such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). In a recently developed technique called high definition (HD) tDCS, small HD-electrodes are used instead of the sponge electrodes in the conventional approach. This is believed to achieve high focality and precision over the target area. In this paper we tested the effects of cathodal and anodal HD-tDCS over the right V5 on motion and shape perception in a single blind, within-subject, sham controlled, cross-over trial. The purpose of the study was to prove the high focality of the stimulation only over the target area. Twenty one healthy volunteers received 20 min of 2 mA cathodal, anodal and sham stimulation over the right V5 and their performance on a visual test was recorded. The results showed significant improvement in motion perception in the left hemifield after cathodal HD-tDCS, but not in shape perception. Sham and anodal HD-tDCS did not affect performance. The specific effect of influencing performance of visual tasks by modulating the excitability of the neurons in the visual cortex might be explained by the complexity of perceptual information needed for the tasks. This provokes a "noisy" activation state of the encoding neuronal patterns. We speculate that in this case cathodal HD-tDCS may focus the correct perception by decreasing global excitation and thus diminishing the "noise" below threshold.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Geriatric Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DCR Unit Sahli Building > Forschungsgruppe Neurologie
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > Forschungsbereich Pavillon 52 > Forschungsgruppe Perzeption und Okulomotorik

Graduate School:

Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB)

UniBE Contributor:

Zito, Giuseppe Angelo, Cazzoli, Dario, Müri, René Martin, Mosimann, Urs Peter, Nyffeler, Thomas, Nef, Tobias

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
600 Technology > 620 Engineering

ISSN:

1662-5153

Publisher:

Frontiers Research Foundation

Language:

English

Submitter:

Vanessa Vallejo

Date Deposited:

08 Oct 2015 16:54

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:49

Publisher DOI:

10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00257

PubMed ID:

26441582

Uncontrolled Keywords:

HD-tDCS; motion perception; shape perception; unilateral brain stimulation; visual test

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.72237

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/72237

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