• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on muscle activity, including 10 m WT, TUG, and BBS, in hemiplegic stroke patients. Methods: This study was conducted on 42 inpatients diagnosed with hemiplegia due to stroke at hospital B in Daejeon for more than 6 months. Walking training was conducted for six weeks, five times a week for 30 minutes, with a general walking group (14 people), tDCS walking group (14 people), and tDCS (sham) walking group (14 people). Results: As a result of the study, the change in the muscle activity before and after tDCS intervention was significantly increased in the tibialis anterior muscle in the CG group. In the EG group, the erector spine (lumbar), rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior muscles significantly increased. In the SEG group, significant increases were observed in the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles. Significant differences were found in the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles in the comparison between groups after intervention according to tDCS application. Also, 10 m WT, TUG, and BBS were significantly increased in the CG, EG, and SEG groups after intervention, and there were significant differences in 10 m WT, TUG, and BBS in comparison between groups after intervention according to tDCS application. Conclusion: As a result, tDCS is an effective in improving the walking ability of stroke patients, and in particular, it effectively increases the muscle activity of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles, which act directly on walking, and also improves the speed and stability of walking. It is considered being an effective method to increase the gait of stroke patients by combining it with the existing gait training.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.79-87
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the pain and balance of patients who receive total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: This study subjects were 24 patients in Hospital T, located in Daegu, South Korea who received TKA after being diagnosed with degenerative arthritis. The subjects were randomly divided into and experimental group and a control group, with each group including 12 patients. Both group received superfical thermal therapy, interferential current therapy (ICT), and continue passive motion (CPM), which are conventional knee therapy on the knee joint. The experimental group received the tDCS treatment three times a week for three weeks, from October 1st to October 20th. The visual analogue scale and Wii Balance Board system were used to measure the pain and balancing ability, respectively, of both groups. In the statistical result analysis, to compare about pre and post test difference in each groups was accomplished. Statistical analysis of independent t-test and paired t-test were conducted using SPSS version 23.0. Results: After three weeks of intervation, there were significantly difference in balance ability in pre and post test in the tDCS group. VAS decreased significantly in both groups(p<.05), There was a significantly difference in pain, balance ability in the tDCS group compared to the sham group. Conclusion: These results indicate that applying tDCS together with conventional knee joint therapy for TKA patients is effective in promoting the patients' recovery.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.75-84
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• 2022

Background: This study was to investigate the effect of non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation due to hemiplegic patients due to stroke on temporal and spatial gait ability. Design: Randomized sham controlled trial. Methods: For the study method, 42 patients with hemiplegia due to stroke were randomly assigned to 14 patients each, and the general walking group, tDCS walking group, and tDCS (sham) walking group were subjected to 5 times a week, 30 minutes a day, and 6 weeks. In the temporal gait variables of hemiplegic patients due to stroke, the effect of the gait time, gait cycle, single support, double support, swing phase, stance phase, gait speed, cadence were measured. In spatial variables, one step length and one step length were measured. Results: As a result of the study, the EG group significantly increased in the step time, gait velocity, and cadence of the paralysis side in the comparison of temporal walking variables between groups according to the application of tDCS of walking ability in hemiplegic patients due to stroke patients(p<.05). In the change in spatial walking variables between groups according to the application of tDCS, the step length and stride length of the EG group showed a significant increase. Both the comparison of temporal and spatial symmetry walking variables between groups according to tDCS application was not significant(p>.05) Conclusion: As a result, tDCS has an effective effect on the improvement of the gait ability of stroke patients. In particular, it is an effective method of physical therapy that can improve the cadence and speed of gait, which can be combined with the existing gait training to effectively increase the gait of hemiplegia due to stroke patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2023

Purpose : This study evaluated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program on the depression, hand functions, cognitive function, and activities of daily living of patients with mild cognitive impairment by dividing 20 patients with mild cognitive impairment and depression. The 20 patients were divided into a treatment group (transcranial direct current stimulation + a virtual reality program) and a control group (placebo transcranial direct current stimulation + a placebo virtual reality program). Methods : This study allocated ten subjects to the treatment group and ten subjects to the control group. The treatment was given five times per week for six weeks (30 sessions), and each session was 30 minutes. This study screened depression by using SGDS-K, a short geriatric depression scale, to examine depression before and after treatment intervention. This study also used the box and block test, NCSE, and FIM to evaluate hand functions, cognitive function, and activities of daily living, respectively. Results : The results showed that depression significantly decreased, hand functions significantly increased, cognitive function significantly improved, and activities of daily living significantly increased after intervention in the treatment and control groups. The magnitude of changes in depression, hand functions, cognitive function, and activities of daily living was significantly different between the two groups after intervention (p>.05). Conclusion : The results showed that the application of transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program could improve cognitive function, hand functions, and activities of daily living by decreasing depression. Therefore, it can be concluded that the simultaneous application of transcranial direct current stimulation and a virtual reality program is an intervention method, which can be applied for decreasing depression, enhancing hand functions, improving cognitive function, and increasing activities of daily living in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.393-433
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• 2015

Creativity refers to the ability to generate novel and useful ideas. Understanding the mechanism of creativity and its enhancement is important in order to solve major problems of the modern society and to improve the wellness of mankind. Creativity is a highly heterogeneous and complex ability which should not be conceptualized as a single entity. Thus, the current literature on creativity is based on a component process approach to creativity. The present study introduces cognitive neuroscience research studying the mechanism of divergent thinking, insight, relational thinking and artistic creativity which are the major components of creativity. Based on an expansive review, the early hypothesis of hemispheric asymmetry emphasizing the importance of the right as opposed to the left hemisphere is not supported by scientific evidence. In addition, there is no consensus or consistency on which specific brain region is related to a certain component of creativity. In fact, there is a mixture of studies reporting involvement of various brain regions across all four lobes of the brain. This inconsistency in the literature most likely reflects heterogeneity of the component processes of creativity and sensitivity of the neural response to differences across tasks and cognitive strategy. The present study introduces examples of representative studies reporting seminal findings on the neural basis and the enhancement of creativity based on innovative methodology. In addition, we discuss limitations of the current cognitive neuroscience approach to creativity and present directions for future research.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.209-244
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• 2020

TMS and tDCS are non-invasive devices that treat the diseases of patients or individual users, and manage or improve their health by applying stimulation to a brain through magnetism and electricity. The effect and safety of these devices have proved to be valid in several diseases, but research in this area is still much going on. Despite increasing cases of their application, legislations directly regulating TMS and tDCS are hard to find. Legal regulation regarding TMS and tDCS in the United States, Germany and Japan reveals that while TMS has been approved as a medical device with a moderate risk, tDCS has not yet earned approval as a medical device. However, the recent FDA guidance, European MDR changes, recalls in the US, and relevant legal provisions of Germany and Japan, as well as recommendations from expert groups all show signs of tDCS growing closer to getting approved as a medical device. Of course, safety and efficacy of tDCS can still be regulated as a general product instead of as a medical device. Considering multiple potential impacts on a human brain, however, the need for independent regulation is urgent. South Korea also lacks legal provisions explicitly regulating TMS and tDCS, but they fall into the category of the grade 3 medical devices according to the notifications of the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. And safety and efficacy of TMS are to be evaluated in compliance with the US FDA guidance. But no specific guidelines exist for tDCS yet. Given that tDCS devices are used in some hospitals in reality, and also at home by individual buyers, such a regulatory gap must quickly be addressed. In a longer term, legal system needs to be in place capable of independently regulating non-invasive brain stimulating devices.

• Journal of Sleep Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2018

Objectives: To assess the effect and safety of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) in primary chronic insomnia. Methods: A one-month, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial was performed. A total of 7 patients with primary chronic insomnia received tDCS using anodal (n=3), cathodal (n=2), or sham stimulation (n=2). They were followed up at 1 week and 1 month after treatment. The primary outcome measures included improvement in total sleep time (TST), sleep latency (SL), and sleep efficiency (SE) at 1 month follow-up. Results: TST and SE were improved with tDCS at 1 month follow-up in all patients (100%) of the anodal group, one (50%) of the cathodal group, and one (50%) of the sham group. tDCS improved SL at 1 month follow-up in two patients (67%) of the anodal group, one (50%) of the cathodal group, and none (0%) of the sham group. With respect to adverse events, transient itching sensation occurred in one patient of the anodal group. None of the other groups reported adverse events. Conclusions: Our results suggest that tDCS may be effective and safe for treatment of primary chronic insomnia. A larger controlled study needs to be further investigated.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.94-102
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of acute transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the isokinetic muscular endurance of the lower extremity for young adults. Method: Thirteen young adults performed isokinetic fatigue tasks for two experimental conditions including real tDCS and sham stimulation protocols. Before and after the task, the tensiomyography was used for evaluating muscle contraction characteristics of vastus medialis and semitendinosus. Paired t-test was performed to compare the fatigue index, changes in maximum radial displacement (∆Dm), delay time (∆Tc), and velocity of contraction (∆Vc) between tDCS conditions. Results: We found no significant differences in the fatigue index between real and sham conditions. In addition, the analyses identified no significant different values of ∆Dm, ∆Tc, and ∆Vc in the vastus medialis and semitendinosus between real and sham conditions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the tDCS protocols may have no acute effect on lower limb muscle endurance for young adults. Future studies should consider the long-term effects of repetitive tDCS sessions, various stimulation positions, exercise tasks, and participant characteristics to more clearly understand the effect of tDCS on muscle endurance of lower extremities.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.87-97
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on the lower extremity function of stroke patients. Methods : Domestic data were gathered from studies that conducted clinical trials associated with transcranial direct current stimulation and its impact on lower extremity function of stroke patients. A total of 592 studies published between 2012 and 2020 were identified, with 7 studies satisfying the inclusion data. The studies consisted of patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) data. The search outcomes were items associated with muscle activity, balance, muscle strength and walking ability. Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) was used to evaluate the quality of 3 randomized control trials. The quality of 4 non-randomized control trials was evaluated using risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized studies (RoBANS). Effect sizes in this study were computed as the corrected standard mean difference (SMD). A random-effect model was used to analyze the effect size because of the high heterogeneity among the studies. Egger's regression and 'trim-and-fill' tests were carried out to analyze the publishing bias. Results : The following factors had a large total effect size (Hedges's g=2.10, 95 %CI=1.54~2.66) involving transcranial direct current stimulation on stroke patients: muscle activity (Hedges's g=2.38, 95 %CI=1.08~3.68), balance (Hedges's g4=2.41, 95 %CI=1.33~3.60), walking ability (Hedges's g=1.54, 95 %CI=0.49~2.59), and muscle strength (Hedges's g=2.45, 95 % CI: 0.85~4.05). Egger's regression test showed that the publishing bias had statistically significant differences but 'trim-and-fill' test showed that there was still statistical difference. Conclusion : This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation on the lower extremity in terms of muscle activity, balance, walking ability, and muscle strength in stroke patients. However, due to the low quality of studies and high heterogeneity factors, the results of our study should be interpreted cautiously.