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Cerebellar tDCS Effects on Conditioned Eyeblinks using Different Electrode Placements and Stimulation Protocols.
Linda Beyer1, Giorgi Batsikadze1, Dagmar Timmann1
1Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen Essen, Germany.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|February 17, 2017
Summary
Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) did not significantly impact eyeblink response conditioning or extinction in humans. Further research is needed to clarify tDCS effects on cerebellar learning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neurostimulation
Background:
- The cerebellum plays a key role in classical eyeblink conditioning.
- Previous studies suggested cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) influences conditioning.
- Animal models indicate cerebellar involvement in extinction and savings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of cerebellar tDCS on classical eyeblink conditioning acquisition, timing, extinction, and savings in humans.
- To determine if tDCS polarity influences these learning processes.
- To assess the impact of tDCS applied with different reference electrode placements.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments using delay eyeblink conditioning with 30 participants each.
- Participants received anodal, cathodal, or sham cerebellar tDCS in a double-blind design.
- Stimulation parameters and reference electrode placements varied across experiments, with some applied during acquisition and others during extinction.
Main Results:
- No significant effects on conditioned response (CR) incidence or timing were observed with an extracephalic reference electrode.
- A trend towards increased CR acquisition was noted with both anodal and cathodal tDCS using a cephalic reference electrode.
- Cerebellar tDCS during extinction trials did not significantly affect extinction or subsequent reacquisition.
Conclusions:
- The study did not find clear polarity-dependent effects of cerebellar tDCS on CR acquisition and timing.
- Potential reasons for weaker-than-expected effects include stimulation timing, individual differences, and anatomy.
- Cerebellar tDCS did not modulate extinction or savings, suggesting a need for further investigation in larger populations with optimized parameters.
