Brain Stimulation Boosts Focus, Raises Threat Sensitivity

Research reveals dual impact of transcranial direct current stimulation on individuals with depression and anxiety

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:55pm

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A study investigating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on individuals with depression and comorbid anxiety found that the brain stimulation enhanced task engagement and activation of brain regions associated with executive function, but also unexpectedly heightened sensitivity to threats.

Why it matters

Effectively treating major depressive disorder (MDD) remains a significant public health challenge, with over half of patients failing to respond to initial treatment and high relapse rates. MDD is frequently accompanied by anxiety disorders, which is associated with worse clinical outcomes. The findings suggest tDCS could be considered as an adjunct treatment for MDD when used in combination with therapies that would benefit from higher attention and engagement, but more research is needed to understand its full effects.

The details

The study divided 101 individuals with comorbid anxiety and depression into two groups - one receiving a single 30-minute session of tDCS to the frontal cortex, and the other receiving sham (placebo) stimulation. Participants then completed an attentional control task with fearful face distractors while in an MRI scanner, followed by an eyeblink startle task under threat of mild electrical shock. Researchers found that tDCS enhanced task engagement, as evidenced by improved accuracy, reaction times, and frontal activation, suggesting a potential increase in executive function. However, it also unexpectedly increased amygdala response (the brain's 'alarm system') and eyeblink startle response under conditions of unpredictable threat.

  • The study was published on January 29, 2026.

The players

Maria Ironside

Lead investigator, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, and Oxley College of Health Sciences, The University of Tulsa.

Cameron S. Carter

Editor-in-Chief of Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, University of California Irvine School of Medicine.

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What they’re saying

“Compared to other brain stimulation technologies, tDCS is more clinically feasible and scalable with the development of home-use devices, relying on remotely supervised protocols that support recent efforts to increase telehealth options, especially in rural areas and other situations where access to in-person mental healthcare is limited. However, tDCS is not yet an established treatment for more difficult-to-treat patients such as those with mixed anxiety and depression. This study helps shed light on the potential usefulness of this tool in this population.”

— Cameron S. Carter, Editor-in-Chief of Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging

“The jury is still out on whether tDCS can be a helpful treatment for anxiety and depression, although the recent FDA approval of home tDCS for depression is promising. More research is needed to better understand how tDCS works and for whom it is most effective. Our study suggests that frontal tDCS may increase task engagement; this makes the case for further investigations pairing tDCS with therapies that would benefit from increased attention/engagement.”

— Maria Ironside, Lead investigator

The takeaway

This study highlights the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as an adjunct treatment for major depressive disorder, particularly when combined with therapies that could benefit from increased attention and engagement. However, more research is needed to fully understand the complex effects of tDCS on individuals with comorbid anxiety and depression, including its unexpected impact on threat sensitivity.