Does Augmenting Virtual Reality-Based Cognitive Training with Longitudinal, Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improve Visual Search Performance? A Neurobehavioral Evaluation

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of combining Virtual Reality (VR)-based cognitive training with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in enhancing visual processing. Eighty participants undertook a 20-day, single-blind, placebo-controlled study across pre-intervention (Day 1), intervention (Day 2–Day 9), and post-intervention phases (Day 10 and Day 20). Participants were randomly assigned to four groups: tDCS + VR, VR + placebo tDCS, tDCS + placebo VR, and placebo tDCS + placebo VR. After undertaking three visual processing tasks on Day 1, participants underwent intervention from Day 2 to Day 9 and followed up with post-intervention testing on Days 10 and 20. Results revealed that the tDCS + VR condition showed significantly improved sensitivity in visual search on Day 10. EEG results indicated that anodal tDCS coupled with VR training enhanced cortical activation in the tDCS + VR condition. This study underscores the potential of cognitive training programs integrating VR and tDCS.