Effects of combined theta burst stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on stress

Research suggests that the combination of different non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as intermittent theta-burst (iTBS) and transcranial direct current (tDCS), could enhance effects stimulation. Studies investigating tDCS iTBS over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) are lacking. In this within-subjects study, we evaluated additive with on psychophysiological measures stress. Sixty-eight healthy individuals were submitted to a bifrontaltDCS + shamtDCS protocol targeting DLPFC one-week interval. The Maastricht Acute Stress Test was used activate stress system after reactivity recovery assessed using physiological self-report measures. stressor evoked significant changes in both conditions. However, no evidence found for differences between them recovery. Participants reported more pain feelings discomfort protocol. study set-up, plus not superior downregulating subjects. There is an effect combined tDCS-iTBS according parameters employed our study. Future studies should explore other parameters, approaches and/or neurobiological markers.