Table 1.
Summary of methodological variabilities and sex-related effects in previous tDCS studies examining response inhibition
| Study | Stimulation | Brain Region | n | Males | Sex counterbalanced? | Intensity (mA) | Duration (min) | Online/offline | Task | Study design | Main findings on inhibitory ability | Main findings on sex-related modulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [83] | Anodal/ Cathodal | SMFC | 18 | 6 | No | 0.7 | 9 | Offline | SST | Single-blinded, crossover, sham-controlled, pre- and post- tDCS testing | No modulatory effect | Not reported |
| [40] | Anodal | rPFC | 14 | 3 | No | 1.5 | 15 | Online | SST | Single-blinded, between-group, sham-controlled | Reduced SSRT | Not reported |
| [84] | Anodal | rIFC | 22 | 4 | No | 1.5 | 18 | Online | SST | Single-blinded, crossover, sham-controlled | Reduced SSRT | Not reported |
| [85] | Anodal | rIFC | 13 | 7 | Yes | 1.5 | 20 | Online | SST | Single-blinded, crossover, sham-controlled | No modulatory effect | Not reported |
| [9] | Anodal | rIFG | 22 | 6 | Yes | 1.5 | 15 | Offline | SST | Between-group, post-tDCS testing | Reduced SSRT | Not reported |
| [57] | Anodal | lDLPFC | 73 | 36 | Yes | 1.5 | 10 | Offline | SST | Single-blinded, crossover, sham-controlled pre- and post- tDCS testing | Reduced SSRT | Not reported |
| [86] | Anodal | OFC | 45 | 16 | No | 1.5 | 30 | Offline | SST | Single-blinded, between-group, sham-controlled, pre- and post- tDCS testing | No modulatory effect | Not reported |
| [41] | Anodal | rDLPFC | 59 | 21 | Yes | 0.5 | 19 | Offline | SST | Single-blinded, between-group, sham-controlled, pre- and post- tDCS testing | Reduced SSRT | Not reported |
| [87] | Cathodal | rDLPFC | 45 | 12 | No | 0.5 | 20 | Offline | SST | Single-blinded, between-group, sham-controlled, pre- and post- tDCS testing | Increased SSRT | Not reported |
| [88] | Anodal | IFC | 52 | N.S | Yes | 1 | 20 | Offline | SST | Between-group, pre- and post- tDCS testing | Reduced SSRT | Not reported |
| [7] | Anodal | rIFG | 11 | 3 | No | 1 | 10 | Offline | SST | Crossover, sham-controlled, post-tDCS testing | Reduced SSRT | Not reported |
| [59] | Anodal | pre-SMA and M1 | 40 | 22 | No | 1 | 10 | Offline | SST | Crossover, sham-controlled, pre- and post- tDCS testing | Reduced SSRT | No effect |
| [46] | Anodal | DLPFC | 73 | 36 | Yes | 1.5 | 10 | Offline | SST | Single-blinded, crossover, sham-controlled pre- and post- tDCS testing | Reduced SSRT | Not reported |
| [89] | Anodal | rIFC | 30 | 14 | Yes | 1.5 | 20 | Offline | SST | Single-blinded, between-group, sham-controlled, pre- and post- tDCS testing | Reduced SSRT | Not reported |
| [90] | Anodal/ Cathodal | IFG | 72 | 18 | No | 1.5 | 20 | Online | SST | Single-blinded, between-group, sham-controlled | No modulatory effect | Not reported |
| [8] | Anodal/ Cathodal | rIFG | 115 | 29 | No | 1.5 | 20 | Offline | SST | Single-blinded, between-group, sham-controlled, post-tDCS testing | Reduced SSRT with anodal stimulation | Not reported |
r or l before brain region denotes right and left, respectively. Abbreviations: N.S, not specified; SMFC, superior medial frontal cortex; PFC, prefrontal cortex; IFC, inferior frontal cortex; OFC, orbitofrontal cortex; IFG, inferior frontal gyrus; pre-SMA, supplementary motor area; M1, primary motor cortex