The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Over Human Motor Function

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive, weak cortical neurostimulation technique which implements direct currents through two electrodes with opposite polarization when both are placed over a conductive surface (e.g. the scalp). It has demonstrated positive effects in a wide range of psychopathologies and neurological disorders in the last 15 years, being its neurophysiological modulatory effect on neuro-motor impairments one of the most important targets in tDCS researching. Thus, different motor-related pathologies have been improved by tDCS, such motor alterations after stroke, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy in childhood, multiple sclerosis, etc. The positive effects of tDCS on motor abilities, both pathological condition or in healthy population, define it as an interesting option to induce neurophysiological changes complementing the traditional rehabilitation procedures. The comprehension of its neurophysiological and biochemical effects, the development of more ideographic procedures, and its integration with pharmacological treatments are mandatory in order to further improve its usage in rehabilitation approaches.