摘要
Background: Working memory is an executive function that plays an important role in many aspects of daily life, and its impairment in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects quality of life. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been a good target site for transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) due to its intense involvement in working memory. In our 2018 study, tDCS improved visual-verbal working memory in healthy subjects. Objective: This study examines the effects of tDCS on ADHD patients, particularly on verbal working memory. Methods: We conducted an experiment involving verbal working memory of two modalities, visual and auditory, and a sustained attention task that could affect working memory in 9 ADHD patients. Active or sham tDCS was applied to the left DLPFC in a single-blind crossover design. Results: tDCS significantly improved the accuracy of visual-verbal working memory. In contrast, tDCS did not affect auditory-verbal working memory and sustained attention. Conclusion: tDCS to the left DLPFC improved visual-verbal working memory in ADHD patients, with important implications for potential ADHD treatments.
Background: Working memory is an executive function that plays an important role in many aspects of daily life, and its impairment in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects quality of life. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been a good target site for transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) due to its intense involvement in working memory. In our 2018 study, tDCS improved visual-verbal working memory in healthy subjects. Objective: This study examines the effects of tDCS on ADHD patients, particularly on verbal working memory. Methods: We conducted an experiment involving verbal working memory of two modalities, visual and auditory, and a sustained attention task that could affect working memory in 9 ADHD patients. Active or sham tDCS was applied to the left DLPFC in a single-blind crossover design. Results: tDCS significantly improved the accuracy of visual-verbal working memory. In contrast, tDCS did not affect auditory-verbal working memory and sustained attention. Conclusion: tDCS to the left DLPFC improved visual-verbal working memory in ADHD patients, with important implications for potential ADHD treatments.
作者
Tomoko Uchida
Daisuke Matsuzawa
Tadashi Shiohama
Katsunori Fujii
Akihiro Shiina
Masamitsu Naka
Katsuo Sugita
Eiji Shimizu
Naoki Shimojo
Hiromichi Hamada
Tomoko Uchida;Daisuke Matsuzawa;Tadashi Shiohama;Katsunori Fujii;Akihiro Shiina;Masamitsu Naka;Katsuo Sugita;Eiji Shimizu;Naoki Shimojo;Hiromichi Hamada(Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan;Research Center for Child Mental Development, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan;Division of Medical Care and Treatment, Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan;Department of Cognitive Behavioral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan)
