The Future of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Rehabilitation: Applications for Depression, Stroke, and Improving Memory and Attention

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a method of brain stimulation involving the placement of positive and negative electrodes over focal brain areas with the intent of modifying neuronal activity within the brain with the electrodes’ current. tDCS is an exception to other brain stimulation approaches as it is completely noninvasive, relatively inexpensive, and has no known long-term side effects. Although currently approved only for investigational use, tDCS has potential for eventual use in rehabilitation settings as an augment to or replacement for various forms of pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological treatments for a variety of neural-related problems and disorders. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to illuminate possible future applications of tDCS in rehabilitation practice, with particular emphasis on treating the prevalent disorders of depression and stroke and improving the critical cognitive functions of memory and attention.