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Site‐specific effects of mental practice combined with transcranial direct current stimulation on motor learning
Author(s) -
Foerster Águida,
Rocha Sérgio,
Wiesiolek Carine,
Chagas Anna Paula,
Machado Giselle,
Silva Evelyn,
Fregni Felipe,
MonteSilva Katia
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/ejn.12079
Subject(s) - transcranial direct current stimulation , neuroplasticity , motor imagery , psychology , supplementary motor area , motor learning , brain stimulation , primary motor cortex , physical medicine and rehabilitation , transcranial magnetic stimulation , neuroscience , dorsolateral prefrontal cortex , motor cortex , prefrontal cortex , stimulation , cognition , medicine , functional magnetic resonance imaging , electroencephalography , brain–computer interface
Mental practice can induce significant neural plasticity and result in motor performance improvement if associated with motor imagery tasks. Given the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation ( tDCS ) on neuroplasticity, the current study tested whether tDCS , using different electrode montages, can increase the neuroplastic effects of mental imagery on motor learning. Eighteen healthy right‐handed adults underwent a randomised sham‐controlled crossover experiment to receive mental training combined with either sham or active anodal tDCS of the right primary motor cortex ( M 1), right supplementary motor area, right premotor area, right cerebellum or left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex ( DLPFC ). Motor performance was assessed by a blinded rater using: non‐dominant handwriting time and legibility, and mentally trained task at baseline (pre) and immediately after (post) mental practice combined with tDCS . Active tDCS significantly enhances the motor‐imagery‐induced improvement in motor function as compared with sham tDCS . There was a specific effect for the site of stimulation such that effects were only observed after M 1 and DLPFC stimulation during mental practice. These findings provide new insights into motor imagery training and point out that two cortical targets ( M 1 and DLPFC ) are significantly associated with the neuroplastic effects of mental imagery on motor learning. Further studies should explore a similar paradigm in patients with brain lesions.