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Comparing the effects of anodal and cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation of primary motor cortex at varying intensities on motor learning in healthy young adults
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  • Sheida Mousavi,
  • Amin Mottahedi,
  • fatemeh Ehsani,
  • Cyrus Taghizadeh Delkhosh,
  • Shapour Jaberzadeh
Sheida Mousavi
Semnan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
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Amin Mottahedi
Semnan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
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fatemeh Ehsani
Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Research Center

Corresponding Author:fatemehehsani59@yahoo.com

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Cyrus Taghizadeh Delkhosh
Semnan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
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Shapour Jaberzadeh
Monash University
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Abstract

Inconsistent results are observed in the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with different montages on motor learning. This study aimed to compare the effects of anodal and cathodal tDCS over primary motor cortex (M1) at different intensities (1 and 2 mA) on motor learning in healthy young adults. The participants were randomly divided to five groups: 1) 1mA M1 c-tDCS, 2) 1mA M1 a-tDCS, 3) 2 mA M1 c-tDCS, 4) 2 mA M1 a-tDCS and 5) M1 sham tDCS. The groups received 20-minute stimulation concurrent with serial response time test (SRTT) implicitly, while the tDCS was turned off after 30 seconds in the sham tDCS group. Response time (RT) and error rate (ER) during SRTT were assessed prior, during and 72 hours after the intervention. The results indicated that online learning occurred in all groups (P < 0.05), except in M1 c-tDCS (1 mA) (P>0.05). In addition, offline learning was observed in 1 mA M1 a-tDCS, 2mA M1 a-tDCS and 2 mA M1 c-tDCS as compared to sham tDCS and M1 c-tDCS (1 mA) groups (P < 0.05). On the other hand, 1 mA M1 c-tDCS group did not indicate any consolidation effect and even a trend toward negative offline learning. M1 a-tDCS with different intensities and also 2 mA M1 c-tDCS may be helpful for the enhancement of motor learning in young adults. Considering the deterioration effect of 1 mA M1 c-tDCS, it seems that caution should be applied in using it to improve motor learning.
Submitted to European Journal of Neuroscience
02 Jun 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Aug 20241st Revision Received
23 Aug 2024Submission Checks Completed
23 Aug 2024Assigned to Editor
23 Aug 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Aug 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Accept