Can Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Increase Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential Responses?
10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e285
- Author:
Do Won KIM
1
;
Euijin KIM
;
Chany LEE
;
Chang Hwan IM
Author Information
1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering Sciences, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation;
Electroencephalography;
Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential;
Primary Visual Cortex
- MeSH:
Electrodes;
Electroencephalography;
Evoked Potentials, Visual;
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation;
Visual Cortex
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2019;34(43):e285-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: It has been frequently reported that non-negligible numbers of individuals have steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) responses of low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) to specific stimulation frequencies, which makes detection of the SSVEP difficult especially in brain–computer interface applications. We investigated whether SSVEP can be modulated by anodal transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) of the visual cortex. METHODS: Each participant participated in two 20-min experiments—an actual tDCS experiment and a sham tDCS experiment—that were conducted on different days. Two representative electroencephalogram (EEG) features used for the SSVEP detection, SNR and amplitude, were tested for pre- and post-tDCS conditions to observe the effect of the anodal tDCS. RESULTS: The EEG features were significantly enhanced by the anodal tDCS for the electrodes with low pre-tDCS SNR values, whereas the effect was not significant for electrodes with relatively higher SNR values. CONCLUSION: Anodal tDCS of the visual cortex may be effective in enhancing the SNR and amplitude of the SSVEP response especially for individuals with low-SNR SSVEP.
