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Transcranial direct current stimulation can enhance ability in motor imagery tasks
Shota Date1, Hiroshi Kurumadani, Tomoshi Watanabe
1Laboratory of Analysis and Control of Upper Extremity Function, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Neuroreport
|June 16, 2015
Summary
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Motor Control
Background:
- Motor imagery tasks like the hand mental rotation task (HMRT) activate motor-related brain areas.
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique.
- Anodal tDCS is known to increase cortical excitability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of anodal tDCS on performance during the hand mental rotation task (HMRT).
Main Methods:
- Eighteen healthy participants performed the HMRT.
- Anodal or sham tDCS was applied to the left scalp over the hand-knob area for 10 minutes at 1 mA.
- Performance was assessed by comparing reaction times and error rates before and after stimulation.
Main Results:
- Reaction times were significantly reduced after anodal tDCS compared to before anodal tDCS and after sham tDCS.
- No significant changes in reaction times were found between sham tDCS pre- and post-stimulation.
Conclusions:
- Anodal tDCS applied over the hand-knob area enhances performance in the hand mental rotation task.
- This suggests that modulating cortical excitability can improve motor imagery capabilities.
