Table 1.
Studies on neuroplasticity effects of DCS/tDCS in humans and animal models.
| Reference | Stimulation protocol | Target area | Model | Effects | Observation time window post-DCS/tDCS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fritsch et al., 2010 | Anodal DCS (10 μA; 15 min) combined with LFS (0.1 Hz) | M1 | DCS of mouse brain slices | Induction of LTP | 30 min |
| Ranieri et al., 2012 | Anodal DCS (200–250 μA; 20 min) | Hippocampus | DCS of rat brain slices | Increase of LTP | 1–5 h |
| Cathodal DCS (200–250 μA; 20 min) | Hippocampus | DCS of rat brain slices | Reduction of LTP | 1–5 h | |
| Kronberg et al., 2017 | Anodal DCS (100–200 μA; 45 s) combined with HFS (20 Hz) | Hippocampus | DCS of rat brain slices | LTP: no effects in apical dendrites; increase in basal dendrites | 1 h |
| Cathodal DCS (100–200 μA; 45 s) combined with HFS (20 Hz) | Hippocampus | DCS of rat brain slices | LTP: increase in apical dendrites; no effects in basal dendrites | 1 h | |
| Anodal or cathodal DCS (100–200 μA; 30 min) combined with LFS (0.5 Hz) | Hippocampus | DCS of rat brain slices | Attenuation of LTD | 1 h | |
| Rohan et al., 2015 | Anodal tDCS (100–250 μA; 30 min) | Hippocampus | tDCS in rats | Increase of LTP | 24 h |
| Podda et al., 2016 | Anodal tDCS (350 μA; 20 min) | Hippocampus | tDCS in mice | Increase of LTP | 1 week |
| Cathodal tDCS (350 μA; 20 min) | Hippocampus | tDCS in mice | Reduction of LTP | 2–6 h | |
| Nitsche et al., 2003 | Anodal tDCS (1 mA; 11–13 min) | M1 | tDCS in humans | Increase of excitability; No effects in the presence of NMDAR, Na+ and Ca2+ channel antagonists | 1 h |
| Cathodal tDCS (1 mA; 9 min) | M1 | tDCS in humans | Reduction of excitability; No effects in the presence of NMDAR antagonist | 1 h | |
| Kuo et al., 2013 | Anodal tDCS or HD-tDCS (2 mA; 10 min) | M1 | tDCS in humans | Increase of excitability | 2 h (tDCS); >2 h (HD-tDCS) |
| Cathodal tDCS or HD-tDCS (2 mA; 10 min) | M1 | tDCS in humans | Reduction of excitability | 2 h (tDCS); >2 h (HD-tDCS) | |
| Monte-Silva et al., 2013 | Anodal tDCS (single session: 1 mA; 13 min) | M1 | tDCS in humans | Increase of excitability | 1 h |
| Anodal tDCS (2 sessions: 1 mA; 13 min; time interval of 3–20 min) | M1 | tDCS in humans | Long-lasting increase of excitability; No long-lasting effects in the presence of NMDAR antagonist | >24 h | |
| Anodal tDCS (2 sessions: 1 mA; 13 min; time interval of 3–24 h) | M1 | tDCS in humans | No effects on excitability | ||
| Polanía et al., 2011 | Bilateral tDCS (1 mA; 10 min) | Anode over left M1 and cathode over right DLPFC | tDCS in humans | Increase of connectivity degree | 5 min |