Transcraniële gelijkstroomstimulatie

Conflict of interest and financial support: research into the therapeutic potential of transcranial direct current stimulation is made possible by the Hersenstichting Nederland (Brain Foundation of the Netherlands) and a Vici grant from NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) nr. 453-10-003 to H.C. Dijkerman.

• One of the most devastating cognitive deficits following a stroke is when the patient neglects one half of the body and surroundings (unilateral neglect).

• Unilateral neglect following a stroke has a high prevalence and is one of the most important predictors of poor functional outcome.

• Various treatment methods have been studied over the past decades but their effects appear too short-term or task-specific and therefore, difficult to extrapolate to other untrained situations.

• A possible new intervention is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which is capable of modulating brain activity by polarizing neurons with the aid of a constant low current.

• Recent research suggests that inhibiting the intact hemisphere or increasing the neuronal activity in the damaged hemisphere might reduce unilateral neglect.

• For treating unilateral neglect, tDCS appears to be a promising technique; however, more research is necessary to reveal its therapeutic potential.