Endogenous dopamine release under transcranial direct-current stimulation governs enhanced attention: a study with positron emission tomography

Mina Fukai, Tomoyasu Bunai, Tetsu Hirosawa, Mitsuru Kikuchi, Shigeru Ito, Yoshio Minabe, Yasuomi Ouchi, Mina Fukai, Tomoyasu Bunai, Tetsu Hirosawa, Mitsuru Kikuchi, Shigeru Ito, Yoshio Minabe, Yasuomi Ouchi

Abstract

Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been established as an effective and noninvasive method to modulate cognitive function. Nevertheless, the mechanisms causing those cognitive changes under the tDCS remain largely unknown. We strove to elucidate the cognito-biological relation under the tDCS condition by examining whether the dopamine system activated by tDCS is involved in cognitive changes in human participants, or not. To evaluate the dopamine system, we used [11C]-raclopride positron emission tomography (PET) scanning: 20 healthy men underwent two [11C]-raclopride PET scans and subsequent neuropsychological tests. One scan was conducted after tDCS to the DLPFC. One was conducted after sham stimulation (control). Results of [11C]-raclopride PET measurements demonstrate that tDCS to the DLPFC caused dopamine release in the right ventral striatum. Neuropsychological tests for attentiveness revealed that tDCS to the DLPFC-enhanced participants' accuracy. Moreover, this effect was correlated significantly with dopamine release. This finding provides clinico-biological evidence, demonstrating that enhancement of dopamine signaling by tDCS in the ventral striatum is associated with attention enhancement.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1. Design of this study
Fig. 1. Design of this study
The placement of the tDCS electrodes was based on the international 10–20 EEG system: the anode at the F3 (left DLPFC) and the cathode at the F4 (right DLPFC) a. The type of stimulation (active or sham) was randomized in a double-blind manner. Thirteen-minutes duration tDCS was applied twice with an interval of 20 min. PET was performed at 50 min after initiation of tDCS, followed by MRI measurement at 140 min and cognitive tests at 200 min, respectively. Participants underwent twice experiments in a crossover fashion at least 1 month apart b
Fig. 2. Time–activity curves (TACs) of [11…
Fig. 2. Time–activity curves (TACs) of [11 C]-raclopride
No difference was found between TACs from the cerebellum a and putamen b except for the right ventral striatum c. In this region, the magnitude of percentage of reduction in [11C]-raclopride binding was found to be higher after active stimulation (*p = 0.002) d. The vertical axes show %dose/L. The red curve shows active stimulation. The blue curve shows sham stimulation
Fig. 3. Brain region of increased dopamine…
Fig. 3. Brain region of increased dopamine release
The brain region superimposed on magnetic resonance images shows marked reduction in [11C]-raclopride binding after active stimulation. The color bar shows the t value
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Relation between changes in adjusted standard deviation of reaction time and in [11C]-raclopride BPND. BPND, binding potential

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