Aim Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is known as a useful application for improving depressive symptoms or cognitive performance. Antidepressive effects by anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC are expected, but the neural mechanisms of these effects are still unclear. Further, in depression, reduced performance and left prefrontal hypofunction during the verbal fluency task (VFT) are generally known. However, few studies have examined the effect of tDCS on the language‐related cerebral network. We aimed to investigate whether anodal tDCS at the left DLPFC affects cognitive performance and the neural basis of verbal fluency. Methods Nineteen healthy volunteers participated in this study. The effects of tDCS on cognitive behavior and cerebral function were evaluated by (i) performance and accuracy of implicit/explicit motor learning task (serial reaction time task/sequential finger‐tapping task), and (ii) cerebral activation while the subjects were performing the VFT by using a functional MRI protocol of a randomized sham‐controlled, within‐subjects crossover design. Results Reaction times of the implicit motor learning task were significantly faster with tDCS in comparison with the sham. Further, language‐related left prefrontal‐parahippocampal‐parietal activation was significantly less with tDCS compared with the sham. Significant correlation was observed between shortened response time in serial reaction time task and decreased cerebral activation during VFT with tDCS. Conclusion Anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC could improve cognitive behavior of implicit motor learning by improving brain function of the frontoparietal‐parahippocampal region related to motor learning, as well as language‐related regions.

The present study showed that modafinil affects reward processing in the NAc in healthy subjects through enhancing more positive anticipation, and it may provide a basis for the use of this drug for treating anhedonia observed in psychiatric disorders.

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Modafinil enhanced alerting performance and increased activation in the occipital lobe in the alerting network possibly relevant to noradrenergic activity during the ANT task. The present study may provide a rationale for the treatment of patients with distinct symptoms of impaired attention.

Prior to a scheduled operation for a 45-year-old male patient with tongue cancer, a tracheotomy performed under intravenous sedation to prevent asphyxia due to extensive bleeding resulted in pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema. The planned operations were postponed until reduction of the pneumomediastinum was confirmed. During operation, airway pressure was kept low to prevent tension pneumomediastinum along with a sufficient depth of anesthesia, controlled analgesia, and continuous administration of muscle relaxants. Postoperatively, sedation was used to avoid stress and complications with the vascular anastomosis site. In this case, air leakage into the soft tissues was one of the possible causes of the event associated with increased airway pressure. Although the incidence of such complications is relatively low, caution should be exercised after tracheostomy.