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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Non-Invasive Electrical Brain Stimulation Montages for Modulation of Human Motor Function
07:47

Non-Invasive Electrical Brain Stimulation Montages for Modulation of Human Motor Function

Published on: February 4, 2016

Does Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Primary Motor Cortex Really Enhance Motor Sequence

Silke Kerstens1, Luuk van Boekholdt1, Hans Vanderheyden1

  • 1Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science
|July 13, 2026
PubMed
Summary

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This study found no significant difference in motor sequence learning (MSL) with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) compared to sham or peripheral nerve block conditions. These findings question the reliability and magnitude of tDCS effects on motor learning.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuromodulation
  • Motor Learning

Background:

  • Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is thought to modulate brain activity by directly polarizing neurons.
  • Recent evidence suggests tDCS may indirectly influence cortical excitability via peripheral nerve stimulation due to strong scalp electric fields.
  • This study investigated whether tDCS effects on motor sequence learning (MSL) are due to cortical polarization or peripheral nerve stimulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To replicate findings on anodal tDCS enhancing MSL.
  • To differentiate between cortical and peripheral nerve stimulation mechanisms in tDCS-induced MSL.
  • To assess the impact of tDCS on MSL in a controlled experimental setting.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, preregistered study with 99 adults.
Keywords:
BL10 topical anesthetic gelMotor sequence learningNeurophysiological mechanismsSerial reaction time task (SRTT)TranscranialTranscutaneous

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Non-Invasive Electrical Brain Stimulation Montages for Modulation of Human Motor Function
07:47

Non-Invasive Electrical Brain Stimulation Montages for Modulation of Human Motor Function

Published on: February 4, 2016

Non-Invasive Modulation and Robotic Mapping of Motor Cortex in the Developing Brain
08:26

Non-Invasive Modulation and Robotic Mapping of Motor Cortex in the Developing Brain

Published on: July 1, 2019

Effects of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on the Primary Motor Cortex by Online Combined Approach with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
11:11

Effects of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on the Primary Motor Cortex by Online Combined Approach with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Published on: September 23, 2017

  • Anodal tDCS (1 mA) applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) during a 3-session serial reaction time task (SRTT).
  • Control conditions included sham stimulation and a peripheral nerve block using BL10 gel to isolate effects.

    • Main Results:

    • Significant improvements in MSL were observed within and across sessions in all conditions (p < .0001).
    • No significant differences in MSL were found between the tDCS, sham, and peripheral nerve block conditions (p = .94).

    Conclusions:

    • The study could not confirm the primary research question due to the lack of significant tDCS effects on MSL.
    • Findings suggest that tDCS-induced motor effects may be smaller than previously reported.
    • The results contribute to a growing body of evidence questioning the reliability of tDCS as a neuromodulation technique.