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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation at 4 mA Induces Greater Leg Muscle Fatigability in Women Compared to Men
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation at 4 mA Induces Greater Leg Muscle Fatigability in Women Compared to Men

Craig D. Workman, Alexandra C. Fietsam and Thorsten Rudroff
Brain sciences, Vol.10(4), p.244
04/01/2020
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10040244
PMCID: PMC7226364
PMID: 32326236
url
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10040244View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has previously shown different cortical excitability and neuropsychological effects between women and men. However, the sex-specific effects of tDCS on leg muscle fatigability has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a single session of 2 mA and 4 mA primary motor cortex tDCS on leg muscle fatigability in healthy young men and women in a crossover design. Twenty participants (women = 10) completed isokinetic fatigue testing (40 maximal reps, 120 degrees/s) of the knee extensors and flexors in conjunction with sham, 2 mA, and 4 mA tDCS in a double-blind, randomized design. The fatigue index from each condition was calculated. Women had significantly greater knee extensor fatigability in the 4 mA condition compared to men (57.8 +/- 6.8% versus 44.1 +/- 18.4%; p = 0.041, d = 0.99). This study provides additional evidence that responses to tDCS may be sex-specific and highlights the necessity of accounting and powering for sex differences in future investigations.
Life Sciences & Biomedicine Neurosciences Neurosciences & Neurology Science & Technology

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