A NEW randomized controlled trial has found that combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with aerobic exercise (AE) significantly reduces cigarette cravings and consumption in chronic smokers. The study, which divided 41 participants into four groups—tDCS alone, AE alone, tDCS plus AE, and a control group—demonstrated that only the combined approach led to meaningful improvements in smoking cessation markers.
Participants underwent five consecutive sessions of their assigned intervention. Before and after the trial, researchers assessed craving levels, motivation to change smoking behavior (MCSB), and brain reactivity (BR) using electroencephalogram exams. The group that received both tDCS and AE showed a significant reduction in craving (p < 0.05), cigarette consumption (p < 0.05), and brain reactivity during exposure to smoking cues (p < 0.05), alongside an increase in MCSB (p < 0.05). These effects were not observed in the groups receiving tDCS or AE alone, suggesting a synergistic effect between the two interventions. tDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that alters neuronal excitability. In this study, anodal stimulation was applied to the prefrontal cortex (F4) and cathodal stimulation to the temporal region (T3), targeting brain regions associated with impulse control, craving, and addiction. Researchers hypothesized that pairing tDCS with aerobic exercise would enhance neuroplasticity, amplifying the effects of both interventions. These findings support the potential of tDCS combined with aerobic exercise as a non-pharmacological strategy for smoking cessation. By modulating neural activity in key addiction-related areas, this approach could offer healthcare professionals an innovative method to help smokers quit. Reference: Alcantara da silva G et al. Transcranial direct current stimulation associated with physical exercise can help smokers to quit smoking: a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2025;15(8623). Anaya Malik | AMJ
