Effects of publicly available non-invasive brain stimulation on attentional functions in healthy adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
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Public interest in attention enhancement is increasing. However, the efficacy of publicly available non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), remains uncertain. We conducted a pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42023487035) systematic review and multi-level meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (58 trials, 295 outcomes) on NIBS effects on attentional functions in healthy adults. NIBS produced a small but significant improvement (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.12–0.36, I2 = 61%) with high heterogeneity and publication bias. Subgroup analyses indicated benefits after NIBS (SMD = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.12–0.33, I2 = 39%) or for anodal tDCS targeting the prefrontal cortex compared with sham tDCS (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.10–0.38, I2 = 49%). Performance-electric-field correlations identified the ventral subregion of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as a promising target. These findings highlight the need for larger pre-registered trials and precise targeting.
