The present study grounds on the absence of evidence-based treatment in individuals with developmental dyslexia (DD). At this topic, the present study will explore the potential effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over left hemispheric direct Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)-V5/MT pathway, cerebral areas usually disrupted in individuals with DD.
The investigators hypothesized that active tDCS over V5/MT will boost reading skills in children and adolescents with DD. On the contrary, sham (placebo condition) tDCS over V5/MT or active (control condition) tDCS over V1 will not have significant effect in improving reading skills. Further, both active and sham tDCS will be safe and well tolerated.
Italian speakers right-handed children and adolescents with dyslexia (DSM-5, APA 2013);
Word/nonword/text reading accuracy and/or speed at least 2 Standard Deviations below the mean for school-age;
nv IQ ≥ 85;
normal hearing and normal or corrected-to-normal vision.
Having a comorbidity with other primary psychiatric/neurological diagnosis (e.g., depression, anxiety, autism, ADHD);
Having a personal history of neurological/medical/genetic diseases;
Having ongoing drug treatment influencing brain function;
Having epilepsy o family history of epilepsy.
6
Treatment groupsSee each treatment group below.