Effect of the anodal transcranial direct current electrical stimulation on cognition of medical residents with acute sleep deprivation

Abstract

Background: Medical residents must sustain acute sleep deprivation, which can lead to nonfatal and fatal consequences in hospitals due to cognitive decline. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) is a safe noninvasive neuromodulation technique that can induce depolarization of neurons. Previous studies in pilots have shown benefits against fatigue increasing wakefulness and cognitive performance. However, the effects of a-tDCS on cognition in acute sleep deprived healthcare workers remains unknown. Purpose: To evaluate cognitive changes in sleep deprived medical residents after one session of a-tDCS. Methods: Open clinical test-re-test study including 13 medical residents with acute sleep deprivation. Subjects received 1 session of bifrontal a-tDCS (2mAx20min), anodal over the left dorsolateral prefrontal region. Pre-and-post treatment subjects were tested with Beck anxiety inventory, Beck depression and HVLT tests, Rey´s and Taylor´s figures, Trail Making A/B, Stroop, Aleatory Digit retention test (WAIS), Digits and symbols and MoCA tests. Post-intervention was added the Executive functions and Frontal Lobes Neuropsychological Battery (BANFE2) test and changing the Taylor figure for Reyfigure. Results: Twelve medical residents were analyzed; 8 men and 4 women, 29.5 (+/-2.2) years mean age. All had a mean of 21.6 (+/-1.3) hours of sleep deprivation. There were no serious adverse events. We found statistically significant difference in Rey´s/Taylor´s figures (p=0.002), Trail Making Test (p=0.005), WAIS IV symbols (p=0.003), Word Stroop (p=0.021). BANFE-2 showed that the main affected area was the orbito-medial prefrontal region. Conclusion: a-tDCS appears safe and improves working memory, attention, response time and distractors elimination in acute sleep deprived medical residents.

The moderating role of sex in the relationship between executive functions and academic procrastination in undergraduate students

“…It is essential to point out that the BAFE 2 allows for an objective evaluation of executive functions, for which an individual evaluation and a minimum of two evaluation sessions are required. This evaluation characteristic could justify the sample size reached in the present study, which was similar to that reported in other studies where the BAFE-2 was used ( Rincón-Campos et al, 2019 ; Muchiut et al, 2021 ; San-Juan et al, 2022 ). Third, there was an unequal distribution of genders in the sample, where women were the majority group.…”

Concomitant cognitive effects of neurostimulation

“…Die tDCS bei Patienten mit Alzheimer beispielsweise erzielte positive Effekte auf einzelne kognitive Domänen, wie etwa Aufmerksamkeit, Gedächtnis und globale kognitive Funktion [24]. Auch bei gesunden Erwachsenen führt die anodale tDCS zu einer Verbesserung des Arbeitsgedächtnisses und der Aufmerksamkeit [25,26]. Hinsichtlich der kathodalen tDCS bestand die Befürchtung einer möglichen Verschlechterung der kognitiven Funktionen aufgrund der supprimierenden Wirkung auf die neuronale Aktivität.…”

Olfactory Epithelium Stimulation Using Rhythmic Nasal Air-Puffs Improves the Cognitive Performance of Individuals with Acute Sleep Deprivation

“…Another study demonstrated that a 20-min session of TDCS at 2 mA anodic stimulation over the left DLPFC of healthy military personnel experiencing acute sleep deprivation enhanced cognitive performance, including working memory, attention, and reduced fatigue levels [14][15][16]. Comparable outcomes were observed in medical residents experiencing acute sleep deprivation (sleeping less than 5 h per night) [17]. In another study, exploring the effects of 2 mA TDCS over the DLPFC for 30 min in 30 h sleep-deprived subjects revealed superior cognitive enhancement compared to individuals consuming 200 mg of caffeine [15].…”