The effect of offline tDCS targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on maximum exertion endurance performance

Abstract

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) plays a crucial role in cognitive functions and may impact physical endurance. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique (NIBS) that has been found to affect both cognitive and physical performance. This study investigates the effects of a-tDCS targeting the left DLPFC (L-DLPFC) on endurance performance. We hypothesize that the stimulation enhances the performance.

A sham-controlled study design was used to assess the influence of tDCS on endurance performance. All participants (N=18) underwent two maximal treadmill tests: one after actual tDCS stimulation and one after sham stimulation. Applying a-tDCS targeting the L-DLPFC significantly improved endurance performance, as evidenced by an increase in time to exhaustion (TTE) compared to performance under sham stimulation. These findings suggest that a-tDCS of the L-DLPFC positively influences endurance at peak exertion levels, potentially through enhanced cognitive functions such as inhibitory control and pain perception. Other possible explanatory models were identified, and further research proposals were formulated.