Neuromodulation Techniques, Mechanisms, and Potential Benefits for Physical Activity Participation and Human Performance

Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, such as Transcranial and Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation (tES) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), have shown the potential to improve or alter neurological and psychiatric conditions, cognitive functions, pain perceptions, movement disorders, athletic performance, and participation in physical activities. Research to date indicates encouraging outcomes, yet the neurophysiological mechanisms driving these benefits remain poorly understood. Additionally, significant variability in responses among and within individuals highlights a need for deeper investigation into what predicts these effects.

This Research Topic aims to expand the understanding of the biological underpinnings and predictive factors influencing the efficacy of neuromodulation in physical activity and athletic performance. By delving into the neural mechanisms potentially responsible for observed benefits and identifying neural biomarkers predictive of responses, this topic seeks to determine the conditions under which neuromodulation is most effective and how it can be individualized for different users.

The scope of this Research Topic includes Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and any form of tES (i.e., Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation [tDCS], Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation [tACS], Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation [tRNS], Transcranial Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation [taVNS], Transcutaneous Spinal Direct Current Stimulation [tsDCS]). We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Neuromodulation interventions for enhancing human performance
• Neuromodulation interventions for altering psychosocial, emotional, cognitive, and motivational constructs related to exercise adherence and prescription
• Neuromodulation for improving adherence to exercise interventions in healthy volunteers, neurologic, neuropsychological, and neuropsychiatric populations
• Predictive factors for the effects of neuromodulation
• Neuromodulation mechanisms related to different brain targets
• Neuromodulation interventions for changing physiological and psychophysiological variables related to human performance
• Neurophysiological mechanisms of neuromodulation
• Expectations: Placebo and/or nocebo effects of neuromodulation
• Brain state and trait factors that can predict the response to non-invasive neuromodulation

Keywords: Non-invasive neuromodulation, transcranial and transcutaneous electrical stimulation (tES), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), neural mechanisms, mental health, exercise participation, athletic performance

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.