SynthesisFrontiers in human neuroscience2026
Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training for working memory in healthy adults: a systematic review and robust variance meta-analysis of trained and untrained outcomes.
Synthesis in Frontiers in human neuroscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
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Abstract
Introduction: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as a potential tool for enhancing the benefits of cognitive training, but its added value for working memory in healthy adults remains unclear. This systematic review and robust variance estimation meta-analysis examined whether active tDCS combined with cognitive training improves post-training working memory performance compared with sham tDCS combined with the same training, and whether the effect varies by outcome type, assessment time point, and training characteristics. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from database inception to January 2026. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials involving healthy adults, comparing active tDCS plus structured cognitive training with sham tDCS plus otherwise identical training, and reporting at least one post-training working memory outcome. Multiple correlated effect sizes within studies were synthesized using robust variance estimation. Outcomes were classified as trained-task outcomes or untrained working-memory outcomes, and both immediate post-test and follow-up assessments were included. Results: A total of 23 studies contributing 135 effect sizes were included. Active tDCS combined with cognitive training produced a small but statistically significant improvement in post-training working memory performance, Hedges' Discussion: These findings suggest that tDCS may provide a small adjunctive benefit when combined with cognitive training in healthy adults, with the most consistent benefits observed for trained-task performance and more limited evidence for transfer to untrained working-memory outcomes.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.