Effect of High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) on Attentional Control: an fMRI Study on Healthy Participants

In a randomized, triple-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial, we will assess the effect of a single session frontal cortex High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) on brain activity and functional connectivity underlying the behavioral change in attentional control in healthy participants. Participants will be recruited after meeting the inclusion criteria and will be randomly assigned to active or sham stimulation groups. All participants will undergo resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rsfMRI) scan and perform an Attention Network Test (ANT) in a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scanner before and after receiving a single session of active or sham HD-tDCS.

Inclusion Criteria:Right-handed healthy adultsAge range 20-39 yearsNormal or corrected-to-normal visionWilling and capable of following study protocol requirements given in the informed consentExclusion Criteria:Psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression and generalized anxiety disorder, etc.)Medical illness or neurological disorder (e.g., cardiovascular illness, anemia, respiratory illness, neurological illness, seizure, etc.)Current abuse of drugs or alcoholAny conditions that prevent undergoing an fMRI scan or tDCS stimulation according to the fMRI and tDCS safety checklists