University of Twente Student Theses
Polarity Effects of HD-tDCS in a Gaming Setting: Investigating the Effect of Cathodal and Anodal Stimulation in a Visuospatial Working-Memory Task
Haccou, Gina L. (2024) Polarity Effects of HD-tDCS in a Gaming Setting: Investigating the Effect of Cathodal and Anodal Stimulation in a Visuospatial Working-Memory Task.
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| Abstract: | Visuospatial working memory (VSM) is essential to everyday functioning, for example, when navigating the natural world and for complex everyday tasks like driving. Therefore, investigating and enhancing VSM could be relevant for learning, e.g. cognitive enhancement or treatment, e.g. cognitive rehabilitation. The brain area associated with VSM is the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which can be influenced by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). This is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that modulates neuronal activity. Typically, tDCS focuses on anodal with excitatory effects, increasing performance, and cathodal stimulation as inhibitory, decreasing performance. This study investigates polarity effects and VSM via stimulation of the right DLPFC. The study includes a within-subjects factorial design with repeated measures. HD-tDCS was applied across five sessions. The Super Hexagon Task was used to measure the player's VSM performance. Results showed mostly insignificant polarity effects on average performance and player behaviour strategies. However, a significant positive effect of anodal stimulation on maximum duration was found. In addition, a small to moderate positive correlation was found between average performance and average rotations (player behaviour). The study illustrates that anodal stimulation can facilitate peak performances in challenging settings. Overall, the study confirmed the possibilities of cognitive enhancement of VSM. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/102751 |
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