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Effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on implicit motor learning and language‐related brain function: An fMRI study
Author(s) -
Nakashima Soichiro,
Koeda Michihiko,
Ikeda Yumiko,
Hama Tomoko,
Funayama Takuya,
Akiyama Tomomi,
Arakawa Ryosuke,
Tateno Amane,
Suzuki Hidenori,
Okubo Yoshiro
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.13208
Subject(s) - transcranial direct current stimulation , psychology , cognition , verbal fluency test , neuroscience , serial reaction time , dorsolateral prefrontal cortex , prefrontal cortex , audiology , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , physical medicine and rehabilitation , stimulation , medicine , neuropsychology
Aim Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is known as a useful application for improving depressive symptoms or cognitive performance. Antidepressive effects by anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC are expected, but the neural mechanisms of these effects are still unclear. Further, in depression, reduced performance and left prefrontal hypofunction during the verbal fluency task (VFT) are generally known. However, few studies have examined the effect of tDCS on the language‐related cerebral network. We aimed to investigate whether anodal tDCS at the left DLPFC affects cognitive performance and the neural basis of verbal fluency. Methods Nineteen healthy volunteers participated in this study. The effects of tDCS on cognitive behavior and cerebral function were evaluated by (i) performance and accuracy of implicit/explicit motor learning task (serial reaction time task/sequential finger‐tapping task), and (ii) cerebral activation while the subjects were performing the VFT by using a functional MRI protocol of a randomized sham‐controlled, within‐subjects crossover design. Results Reaction times of the implicit motor learning task were significantly faster with tDCS in comparison with the sham. Further, language‐related left prefrontal‐parahippocampal‐parietal activation was significantly less with tDCS compared with the sham. Significant correlation was observed between shortened response time in serial reaction time task and decreased cerebral activation during VFT with tDCS. Conclusion Anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC could improve cognitive behavior of implicit motor learning by improving brain function of the frontoparietal‐parahippocampal region related to motor learning, as well as language‐related regions.