Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of neuromodulation that delivers constant, low-intensity direct current electricity to the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp. The technique was originally developed to help patients with brain injuries or neuropsychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder, and is distinguished from cranial electrotherapy stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation by its use of a steady direct current rather than an alternating or magnetic signal. Research shows increasing evidence for tDCS as a treatment for depression, with emerging supportive evidence for managing schizophrenia, particularly its negative symptoms, though evidence remains mixed for cognitive enhancement in healthy people and there is no strong evidence supporting its use for memory deficits in Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease.