tDCS is a form of neuromodulation that uses constant, low direct current delivered via electrodes on the scalp. It is designed to help patients with brain injuries or psychiatric conditions. It can increase cortical activity, and change neural activity and cortical excitability.

It transfers weak electrical current (0-2 mA) to specific regions of the brain via electrodes on the scalp, by either using the positive electrode or the negative electrode.

tDCS is a safe, cost-effective, wearable device that unlike rTMS can be used at home.

In research, tDCS is most often used daily, weekly, or biweekly. These treatments also last from one to two weeks to 6 months. There are exceptions to these patterns – however, the frequency of using TDCS, as well as the duration, usually depends on the effect of the study you want to recreate.

A standard tDCS session can be anywhere from 5 to 40 minutes, but frequently used stimulation protocols in scientific publications are usually 20 to 30 minutes, at regular time intervals of 10 to 15 days. Some studies have observed positive effects for a few days, while some other studies observed improvement in the first session.