Does Augmenting Virtual Reality-Based Cognitive Training with Longitudinal, Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improve Visual Search Performance? A Neurobehavioral Evaluation

This study investigated the effectiveness of combining Virtual Reality (VR)-based cognitive training with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in enhancing visual processing. Eighty participants undertook a 20-day, single-blind, placebocontrolled study across pre-intervention (Day 1), intervention (Day 2–Day 9), and post-intervention phases (Day 10 and Day 20). Participants were randomly assigned to four groups: tDCS+VR, VR+placebo tDCS, tDCS+placebo VR, and placebo tDCS+placebo VR. After undertaking three visual processing tasks on Day 1, participants underwent intervention from Day 2 to Day 9 and followed up with post-intervention testing on Days 10 and 20. Results revealed that the tDCS+VR condition showed significantly improved sensitivity in visual search on Day 10. EEG results indicated that anodal tDCS coupled with VR training enhanced cortical activation in the tDCS+VR condition. This study underscores the potential of cognitive training programs integrating VR and tDCS.