Abstract:

Objective To review the parameters, effects, mechanisms, potential risks and research status of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in intervening motor skills among adults.

Methods A systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCO and CNKI databases was conducted for studies related to tDCS in intervening motor skills among adults, with publication from inception to October, 2025. Data extraction and scoping review were performed, with literature quality assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale.

Results A total of 38 studies were included, from China, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Spain, Iran and Ireland, involving 1 087 participants. The subjects were adults, including non-athletes and athletes. The outcomes included the performance of opened motor skills and closed motor skills, such as basketball shooting accuracy and golf putting test scores. Anodal tDCS intervention with a stimulation intensity of 1 mA to 2 mA; a stimulation duration of ten to 25 minutes; and an electrode patch of 35 cm² (3.14 cm² to 9 cm² for high-precision tDCS) improved motor skill performance in both athletes and non-athletes. For opened motor skills, tDCS targeting the primary motor cortex was better; for closed motor skills, tDCS targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was more effective.

Conclusion tDCS may have a certain facilitating effect on the performance of opened and closed motor skills in adults. However, significant heterogeneity exists in the intervention environments, stimulation protocols and experimental designs of existing studies, resulting in ongoing controversy over its efficacy.

Key words: transcranial direct current stimulation, opened motor skills, closed motor skills, scoping review