Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Based Metaplasticity Protocols in Working Memory

BACKGROUND It has been already shown that delivering tDCS that are spaced by an interval alters its impact on motor plasticity. These effects can be explained, based on metaplasticity in which a previous modification of activity in a neuronal network can change the effects of subsequent interventions in the same network. But to date there is limited data assessing metaplasticity effects in cognitive functioning. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to test several tDCS-based metaplasticity protocols in working memory (WM), by studying the impact of various interstimulation intervals in the performance of a 3-back task. METHODS Fifteen healthy volunteers per experiment participated in this study. Experiments 1 and 2 tested an anodal tDCS-induced metaplasticity protocol (1 mA, 10 + 10') with 3 interstimulation intervals (10, 30, and 60 min). Experiment 3 determined the effects of a similar protocol-with a 10-min interval between two sessions of cathodal tDCS or anodal plus cathodal tDCS (1 mA, 10 + 10'). RESULTS Two consecutive sessions of anodal tDCS delivered with a 10 min interval between them did not improve WM performance (P = .095). This effect remained the same if the interval was increased to 30 or 60 min. In contrast, when a 10 min interval was given between two consecutive cathodal tDCS sessions, performance in the 3 back task increased (P = .042). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the polarity effects of tDCS on working memory are dependent on the previous level of activity of the recruited neural population.