Table 1 Pros and Cons of Different tDCS Stimulation Strategies.
Conventional 2 mA tDCS | 2 mA HD-tDCS | Conventional 4 mA tDCS | Individualized E-Field tDCS | Ideal Method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Set-up | Pad Electrodes | 4 × 1 Circular Electrodes | Pad Electrodes | Pad or 4 × 1 Circular Electrodes | Pad Electrodes |
Pros | Easy to use with minimal side effects and at-home potential | Focal stimulation at target with minimal off-target effects | Could have stronger or more consistent effects vs. 2 mA | Personalized scalp intensity for same on-target E-field across all patients | Easy to use with higher cortical intensity and lower risk of increased side effects; no MRI scans |
Cons | Mixed effects to date | Focality-intensity tradeoff = lower intensity at target; more complex electrode set-up | Greater risk of side effects or improper use at-home; largely untested | Requires MRI scans and computational expertise; lower potential for at-home use | Not applicable |
