Brain polarization of parietal cortex augments training-induced improvement of visual exploratory and attentional skills

To verify the effects of visual training based on multisensory stimuli combined with cortical neuromodulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the superior parietal cortex (experiments 1 and 2). To investigate the effects of tDCS on visual search (experiment 3).

Protocol

tDCS stimulation of the right superior parietal cortex (PPC) (experiments 1 and 2) and stimulation of the left PPC (experiment 3) during visual rehabilitation training with bimodal stimuli.

Participants are asked to fixate on the center point and move their gaze toward the visual stimulus, signaling its detection by pressing a button. Two training sessions at least 1 week apart for each participant, each lasting 30 minutes.

Results

Applying tDCS to the right hemisphere improves visual exploration results in patients with visual deficits related to neurological damage. A combination of left PPC tDCS with bimodal stimulation shows that response times to stimuli improve from the very first minutes of treatment.