Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Acute Anxiety and Cognitive Performance of Athletes: an Experimental, Double-Blind, Randomized Study
Resumo
Abstract
Anxiety is present at various times of sports competitions sometimes limiting the athletes’ performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on athletes' acute anxiety symptoms and cognitive performance when applied for 7 days. This is an experimental, double-blind, randomized study of 23 soccer players with anxiety symptoms. Two groups: anodic tDCS and sham tDCS. Anodic stimulation was performed in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the cathode positioned in the right DLPFC, current intensity 2 mA, for 20 minutes on 7 consecutive days and then on the 14th day. Anxiety was assessed by the HAM-A scale and cognitive performance was through the Stroop Color Word Test and the Trail Making Test. For statistical analysis, t-student test and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used. Statistical significance was set at p <0.05. No significant differences were observed between the groups in decreasing anxiety symptoms and improving cognitive performance using a 7-day consecutive protocol. This study provides evidence that there is an inverse correlation between anxiety and inhibitory control. There was no difference in the application of tDCS compared to the control group regarding improvement in anxious symptoms and inhibitory control in this specific population using a seven-day tDCS protocol.
Keywords: Anxiety. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. Executive Function. Athletes. Cognition.
Resumo
A ansiedade está presente em diversos momentos das competições esportivas limitando por vezes o desempenho dos atletas. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito da estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua (ETCC) nos sintomas agudos de ansiedade e no desempenho cognitivo de atletas quando aplicada por 7 dias. Este é um estudo experimental, duplo-cego e randomizado com 23 jogadores de futebol com
sintomas de ansiedade. Dois grupos: ETCC anódica e ETCC simulada. A estimulação anódica foi realizada no córtex pré-frontal dorsolateral esquerdo (DLPFC) e o cátodo posicionado no DLPFC direito, intensidade de corrente 2 mA, por 20 minutos em 7 dias consecutivos e depois no 14º dia. A ansiedade foi avaliada pela escala HAM-A e o desempenho cognitivo por meio do Stroop Color Word Test e do Trail Making Test. Para análise estatística foram utilizados o teste t-student e o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman. A significância estatística foi fixada em p<0,05. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os grupos na diminuição dos sintomas de ansiedade e na melhoria do desempenho cognitivo usando um protocolo de 7 dias consecutivos. Este estudo fornece evidências de que existe uma correlação inversa entre ansiedade e controle inibitório. Não houve diferença na aplicação da ETCC em comparação ao grupo controle quanto à melhora dos sintomas ansiosos e ao controle inibitório nesta população específica utilizando um protocolo de ETCC de sete dias.
Palavras-chaves: Ansiedade. Estimulação Transcraniana por Corrente Contínua. Função Executiva. Atletas. Cognição.
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