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Brain Sciences
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Brain Boosting: Recent Advances in Neurostimulation on Cognitive Functions and...
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Brain Boosting: Recent Advances in Neurostimulation on Cognitive Functions and Behavioral Performance

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioral Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 3144

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Rinaldo L. Perri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University Niccolo Cusano, 00166 Rome, Italy
Interests: hypnosis; neurostimulation; EEG; imagery; decision-making

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, cutting-edge applications of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) have been documented in fields such as hypnosis, sport, and learning. Indeed, while extensive literature has described applications of NIBS for mental and neurological disorders, there are fields for which effective NIBS interventions have only recently been described. Among these is the enhancement of hypnotic responsiveness and the improvement of reading performance in individuals with learning disorders.

This Special Issue of Brain Sciences aims to present a collection of studies illustrating the most recent advances in NIBS in original fields of cognitive science. Authors are invited to submit cutting-edge research and reviews that address a broad range of emerging topics in both clinical and health research, including NIBS and food, learning, hypnosis, sport, other than technological advancements (multifocal and high-definition approaches), experimental designs (online vs. offline stimulation, single vs. multiple sessions), and neurophysiological substrates of NIBS applications. Studies comparing NIBS and other interventions are also welcome.

Dr. Rinaldo L. Perri
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • TMS
  • cognitive functions
  • behavioral interventions
  • brain plasticity
  • addictions
  • hypnosis
  • neurostimulation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3888 KB  
Article
Targeting Executive Function and Language Impairments with tACS Combined with Behavioral Intervention in Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Case-Series, Pilot Investigation
by Kyriaki Neophytou, Dimitrios S. Kasselimis, Georgia Angelopoulou, Areti Deligiannaki, Rafailia Bourtsoukli, Eleni Peristeri, Vasilina Spanou, Sokratis G. Papageorgiou, Vasilios C. Constantinides, Constantin Potagas and Kyrana Tsapkini
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(11), 1199; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15111199 - 7 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Executive function (EF) impairments are found in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, including in Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), which is primarily characterized by language impairments. The goal of this preliminary investigation was to evaluate the hypothesis that, by targeting domain-general EFs, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Executive function (EF) impairments are found in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, including in Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), which is primarily characterized by language impairments. The goal of this preliminary investigation was to evaluate the hypothesis that, by targeting domain-general EFs, domain-specific functions—specifically, language processing—might also be improved in this population. Methods: This case series included four Greek-speaking individuals with PPA who underwent behavioral and neurostimulation treatment daily for 15 consecutive sessions. Behavioral treatment was performed through Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) that targeted various EF functions. Neurostimulation treatment included alpha-rhythm transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), previously implicated in EF functioning. EF and language performance was assessed before (pre-) and after (post-) treatment and was also compared against the performance of healthy control individuals. Results: The pre- to post-treatment comparisons showed improvements primarily in EF functions, with heterogeneous improvements in language functions across the four cases. Except for one task (N-back), in which all four patients showed numerical improvement, the pattern of numerical gains differed across patients. Conclusions: While the treatment protocol targeted EF functioning, improvements were found for both EF and language processes (albeit more variable across patients). These results support the hypothesis that improvement in domain-general functions may lead to improvements in domain-specific functions as well. These preliminary findings can be used as guiding evidence for the design of future, large-scale clinical trials that will allow us to generalize conclusions to the broader PPA population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Boosting: Recent Advances in Neurostimulation on Cognitive Functions and Behavioral Performance)
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14 pages, 3309 KB  
Article
Neurostimulation and Sense of Agency: Three tDCS Experiments on the Modulation of Intentional Binding
by Marika Bonuomo, Davide Perrotta, Gloria Di Filippo and Rinaldo Livio Perri
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(2), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15020176 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 2003
Abstract
Objectives: This research investigated the impact of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on sense of agency (SoA) when focusing on cortical regions like the cerebellum, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the angular gyrus (AG). To this aim, three experiments were carried out, [...] Read more.
Objectives: This research investigated the impact of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on sense of agency (SoA) when focusing on cortical regions like the cerebellum, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the angular gyrus (AG). To this aim, three experiments were carried out, and agency was assessed through the Wundt Clock Paradigm, which provides a measure of intentional binding. Methods: The first experiment provided offline cathodal stimulation applied to the right cerebellum, with the return electrode placed on the left DLPFC, and participants were randomly assigned to either the placebo group or the active group. The second experiment adopted the same montage as the previous one, but the online stimulation was provided in a within-subjects design. Results: Since none of these studies targeting the cerebellum produced significant results on the agency measures, we carried out a third experiment aimed to replicate a previous study that provided inhibitory stimulation of the left AG. However, this also showed no modulations of SoA. Conclusions: Several explanations could be given for these negative results. For example, the inter-individual variability, task complexity, and limitations of tDCS technology may contribute to the inconsistencies of the results. Also, the failure to replicate a previous study raises the issue of the replicability crisis in psychology. Nevertheless, this study may represent an important reference for research aimed at modulating SoA through the neuromodulation of brain areas included in the agency network. Future studies could benefit from assessing individual cognitive abilities supporting agency, optimizing stimulation protocols, and exploring alternative brain stimulation techniques to obtain significant results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Boosting: Recent Advances in Neurostimulation on Cognitive Functions and Behavioral Performance)
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