Abstract
Brain plasticity in the somatosensory cortex and tactile performance can be facilitated by brain stimulation. Here, we investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on tactile perception in musicians and non-musicians to elucidate how tDCS-effects might depend on tactile expertise. On three separate days, 17 semi-professional musicians (e.g., piano or violin players) and 16 non-musicians aged 18–27 years received 15 min of 1 mA anodal (a-tDCS), cathodal (c-tDCS) or sham tDCS in a pseudorandomized design. Pre and post tDCS, tactile sensitivity (Touch Detection Task; TDT) and discrimination performance (Grating Orientation Task; GOT) were assessed. For further analysis, the weekly hours of instrument-playing and computer-typing were combined into a “tactile experience” variable. For GOT, but not TDT, a significant group effect at baseline was revealed with musicians performing better than non-musicians. TDT thresholds were significantly reduced after a-tDCS but not c-tDCS or sham stimulation. While both musicians’ and non-musicians’ performance improved after anodal stimulation, neither musical nor tactile expertise was directly associated with the magnitude of this improvement. Low performers in TDT with high tactile experience profited most from a-tDCS. We conclude that tactile expertise may facilitate somatosensory cortical plasticity and tactile learning in low performers.
Highlights
A causal link between tactile stimulation, tactile perception, and brain plasticity has been widely accepted
By using functional magnet resonance imaging, Hodzic and colleagues [5] revealed that peripheral tactile stimulation induced cortical reorganization, namely in the primary (S1) and secondary (S2) somatosensory cortices and that the magnitude of changes was positively correlated with the amount of improvement in a tactile Grating Orientation Task (GOT)
Analysis of baseline tactile performance revealed that musicians had lower GOT thresholds at baseline (2.29 ± 0.71 mm, mean and SD) than non-musicians (2.58 ± 0.69 mm; F(1,97) = 4.25, p = 0.04)
Summary
A causal link between tactile stimulation, tactile perception, and brain plasticity has been widely accepted (for review, cf. [1]). For example, that peripheral tactile stimulation using Hebbian coactivation within or across fingers induced somatosensory cortical plasticity and tactile learning already after short-term exposure [2,3,4]. By using functional magnet resonance imaging (fMRI), Hodzic and colleagues [5] revealed that peripheral tactile stimulation induced cortical reorganization, namely in the primary (S1) and secondary (S2) somatosensory cortices and that the magnitude of changes was positively correlated with the amount of improvement in a tactile Grating Orientation Task (GOT). Direct brain stimulation has demonstrated positive results in tactile detection and discrimination. Such brain stimulation can be applied as either an online or offline stimulation protocol. It is assumed that the effects of brain stimulation persist for
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