Transcranial direct current stimulation facilitates backward walking training

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Science
• Motor Control

Background:

• Backward walking training challenges physical and neural systems, potentially improving gait.
• Transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) non-invasively enhances cortical activity and corticomotor plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1) or dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) enhances backward walking training effects in healthy individuals.
• To compare the effects of M1-tDCS versus DLPFC-tDCS on dual-task walking performance after backward walking training.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-six healthy participants were randomly assigned to M1-tDCS, DLPFC-tDCS, or sham tDCS groups.
• Participants underwent 15 minutes of tDCS concurrently with 5 minutes of backward walking training.
• Dual-task forward and backward walking performance was assessed before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Both M1-tDCS and DLPFC-tDCS groups showed increased backward walking speed.
• The DLPFC-tDCS group demonstrated a greater increase in dual-task backward walking speed compared to the M1-tDCS group.
• M1-tDCS decreased gait variability during dual-task backward walking, while DLPFC-tDCS increased it.

Conclusions:

• Backward walking training with M1 stimulation may enhance backward walking speed by reducing gait variability.
• Backward walking training with DLPFC stimulation might prioritize walking speed over gait stability.
• Combining backward walking training with tDCS shows potential for broader application in rehabilitation to improve gait performance.