Bihemispheric anodal corticomotor stimulation using transcranial direct current stimulation improves bimanual typing...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown promise in enhancing unimanual hand function.
• The efficacy of tDCS for improving bimanual skilled hand movements remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of bihemispheric anodal corticomotor tDCS (BAC-tDCS) on bimanual skilled hand use.
• To assess the impact of BAC-tDCS on bimanual typing (BT) and short-term memory (STM) performance.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-eight healthy subjects were randomized to receive either BAC-tDCS or sham-tDCS for 20 minutes daily over 5 consecutive days.
• Performance on bimanual typing and short-term memory tasks was evaluated daily and at a 1-week follow-up.

Main Results:

• BAC-tDCS led to a significantly greater improvement in bimanual typing scores compared to sham-tDCS (p =.04).
• Improvements in bimanual typing performance were not retained at the 1-week follow-up.
• BAC-tDCS did not demonstrate any significant effect on short-term memory performance.

Conclusions:

• BAC-tDCS can acutely enhance bimanual skilled hand performance, suggesting potential for rehabilitation.
• The transient nature of the improvements highlights the need for further research into optimal stimulation protocols for sustained effects.
• Findings may inform future interventions aimed at improving hand function in individuals with bilateral hand impairments.