Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/15463
Title: Task-specific effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor learning
Authors: Saucedo Marquez, CM
Zhang, Xue
Swinnen, SP
MEESEN, Raf 
Wenderoth, N
Issue Date: 2013
Source: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7 (333), p. 1-12
Abstract: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a relatively new non-invasive brain stimulation technique that modulates neural processes. When applied to the human primary motor cortex (M1), tDCS has beneficial effects on motor skill learning and consolidation in healthy controls and in patients. However, it remains unclear whether tDCS improves motor learning in a general manner or whether these effects depend on which motor task is acquired. Here we compare whether the effect of tDCS differs when the same individual acquires (1) a Sequential Finger Tapping Task (SEQTAP) and (2) a Visual Isometric Pinch Force Task (FORCE). Both tasks have been shown to be sensitive to tDCS applied over M1, however, the underlying processes mediating learning and memory formation might benefit differently from anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (anodal-tDCS). Thirty healthy subjects were randomly assigned to an anodal-tDCS group or sham-group. Using a double-blind, sham-controlled cross-over design, tDCS was applied over M1 while subjects acquired each of the motor tasks over three consecutive days, with the order being randomized across subjects. We found that anodal-tDCS affected each task differently: the SEQTAP task benefited from anodal-tDCS during learning, whereas the FORCE task showed improvements only at retention. These findings suggest that anodal-tDCS applied over M1 appears to have a task-dependent effect on learning and memory formation.
Keywords: consolidation, corticospinal excitability, motor learning, neuromodulation, primary motor cortex, tDCS
Document URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/15463
Link to publication/dataset: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23847505
http://www.frontiersin.org/Human_Neuroscience/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00333/abstract
ISSN: 1662-5161
e-ISSN: 1662-5161
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00333
ISI #: 000321196200001
Rights: Copyright: © 2013 Saucedo Marquez, Zhang, Swinnen, Meesen and Wenderoth. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in other forums, provided the original authors and source are credited and subject to any copyright notices concerning any third-party graphics etc.
Category: A1
Type: Journal Contribution
Validations: ecoom 2015
Appears in Collections:Research publications

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
Motor Learning tDCS fnhum-07-00333.pdfPublished version1.41 MBAdobe PDFView/Open
Show full item record

SCOPUSTM   
Citations

76
checked on Sep 2, 2020

WEB OF SCIENCETM
Citations

115
checked on Mar 29, 2024

Page view(s)

62
checked on Sep 7, 2022

Download(s)

118
checked on Sep 7, 2022

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.