What is it about?
Mild brain stimulation recently received a lot of attention as a promising supplementary treatment method for cognitive disorders such as dementia and schizophrenia. By using electrodes on the head, mild electric currents are directed through the brain. Especially in combination with cognitive training – a frequently applied form of therapy involving activities like memory games on the computer – brain stimulation has the potential to enhance the absorption of new information and the learning of new things. We evaluated the effectiveness of combining cognitive training and mild brain stimulation by combining data from previous studies in a meta-analysis. We systematically reviewed 72 previously conducted studies and did not find indications of an additional effect of brain stimulation on top of cognitive training. There were slight improvements in cognitive functioning immediately after the training, but these did not persist in the long term. There was no evidence for improvement of daily functioning or symptoms of the participants. This may imply that adding brain stimulation as a supplementary treatment simply does not work. However, the existing research on mild brain stimulation has significant methodological shortcomings. Therefore, more extensive, and better-designed research is essential to be able to determine whether it is meaningful to implement mild brain stimulation in practice for individuals with cognitive disorders.
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Why is it important?
This research is timely because it addresses a growing interest in non-invasive treatments for brain health. Understanding whether mild brain stimulation can enhance standard cognitive training could lead to breakthroughs in treating conditions like memory loss or learning difficulties. While previous research often suggests that combining mild brain stimulation with cognitive training shows promise, this review of existing studies shows that it is still unclear if this combination is more effective than cognitive exercises alone. Specifically, the results of this review highlight a need to focus on how this approach could positively impact patients in their daily lives.
Perspectives
For over a century, experts in cognitive training have debated a crucial question: do the benefits of cognitive training apply to real-life situations? This is an important consideration that shouldn't be overlooked, especially when cognitive training is paired with other treatments. If the training programs used in studies aren't relevant to everyday life, then even with the addition of mild brain stimulation, they won't significantly improve people's daily experiences. It's essential to ensure that these programs are practical and beneficial for real-world applications.
Anika Poppe
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The efficacy of combining cognitive training and noninvasive brain stimulation: A transdiagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis., Psychological Bulletin, November 2023, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/bul0000406.
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