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Short-term balance consolidation relies on the primary motor cortex: a rTMS study
S Egger1,2, M Wälchli3, E Rüeger3
1Department of Neurosciences and Movement Science, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. sven.egger@unifr.ch.
Scientific Reports
|March 30, 2023
Summary
Disrupting the primary motor cortex (M1) with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) impaired balance retention, suggesting M1 is crucial for consolidating learned balance skills.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Motor Learning
Background:
- The primary motor cortex (M1) shows adaptations after balance training, but its causal role in learning and consolidation is unclear.
- It is debated whether M1 changes drive balance improvements or are a consequence of them.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of the primary motor cortex (M1) in the learning and consolidation of balance tasks.
- To determine if M1 is essential for retaining balance skills after training.
Main Methods:
- Thirty participants were randomized into repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or sham-rTMS groups.
- A balance acquisition phase was followed by M1 disruption (rTMS or sham) and a retention test 24 hours later.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in balance improvement were observed during the acquisition phase between groups.
- The rTMS group showed performance loss, while the sham-rTMS group exhibited significant off-line gains in balance retention (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
- This study provides evidence for a causal relationship between primary motor cortex (M1) involvement and the consolidation of balance tasks.
- M1 plays a critical role in retaining learned balance skills, not just adapting to new ones.
