Multi-Session Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Left DLPFC tDCS on Cognitive Inhibition and Decision-Making in Endurance and Middle-Distance Athletes

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Behavior and Cognitive Sciences in Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/sshr.2026.406942.1226

Abstract

Background: Cognitive functions such as inhibitory control and decision-making critically influence endurance and middle-distance performance. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left DLPFC is a non-invasive approach proposed to enhance these functions and mitigate mental fatigue.
Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of tDCS on cognitive inhibition and sport-specific decision-making in professional endurance and middle-distance runners.
Methods and Materials: Ten male national-level runners were randomly assigned to receive either active tDCS or sham stimulation over three sessions, with one-day intervals.
Results: The results indicate that tDCS can enhance cognitive performance. In the Stroop task, the tDCS group exhibited faster reaction times compared to the Sham group (F(1,9)=4.59, P=0.034) and committed fewer errors (P=0.042), A significant main effect of time was found for both accuracy and reaction time, reflecting performance improvements across sessions. In the GPAI task, tDCS enhanced appropriate decision-making relative to Sham (F(1,9)=6.42, P=0.041), whereas its impact on reducing inappropriate decisions was less pronounced.
Conclusion: Three sessions of tDCS over the left DLPFC can acutely enhance cognitive inhibition and sport-specific decision-making in elite endurance and middle-distance runners. although larger studies are needed to confirm and generalize these results.

Keywords

Sport Sciences and Health Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 07 June 2026

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