The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor sequence learning and upper limb function after stroke.

Fleming MK., Rothwell JC., Sztriha L., Teo JT., Newham DJ.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of electrode arrangement on the efficacy of tDCS in stroke survivors and determine whether changes in transcallosal inhibition (TCI) underlie improvements. METHODS: 24 stroke survivors (3-124months post-stroke) with upper limb impairment participated. They received blinded tDCS during a motor sequence learning task, requiring the paretic arm to direct a cursor to illuminating targets on a monitor. Four tDCS conditions were studied (crossover); anodal to ipsilesional M1, cathodal to contralesional M1, bihemispheric, sham. The Jebsen Taylor hand function test (JTT) was assessed pre- and post-stimulation and TCI assessed as the ipsilateral silent period (iSP) duration using transcranial magnetic stimulation. RESULTS: The time to react to target illumination reduced with learning of the movement sequence, irrespective of tDCS condition (p>0.1). JTT performance improved after unilateral tDCS (anodal or cathodal) compared with sham (p<0.05), but not after bihemispheric (p>0.1). There was no effect of tDCS on change in iSP duration (p>0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral tDCS is effective for improving JTT performance, but not motor sequence learning. SIGNIFICANCE: This has implications for the design of future clinical trials.

DOI

10.1016/j.clinph.2017.03.036

Type

Journal article

Journal

Clin Neurophysiol

Publication Date

07/2017

Volume

128

Pages

1389 - 1398

Keywords

Motor sequence learning, Stroke, Transcallosal inhibition, Transcranial direct current stimulation, Upper limb function, Adult, Aged, Cross-Over Studies, Electromyography, Evoked Potentials, Motor, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Learning, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Cortex, Photic Stimulation, Psychomotor Performance, Single-Blind Method, Stroke, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Upper Extremity

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