Abstract
Using a variety of tools is a common and essential component of modern human life. Patients with brain damage or neurological disorders frequently have cognitive deficits in their recognition and manipulation of tools. In this study, we focused on improving tool-related cognition using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Converging evidence from neuropsychology, neuroimaging and non- invasive brain stimulation has identified the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) and inferior parietal lobule (IPL) as brain regions supporting action semantics. We observed enhanced performance in tool cognition with anodal tDCS over ATL and IPL in two cognitive tasks that require rapid access to semantic knowledge about the function or manipulation of common tools. ATL stimulation improved access to both function and manipulation knowledge of tools. The effect of IPL stimulation showed a trend toward better manipulation judgments. Our findings support previous studies of tool semantics and provide a novel approach for manipulation of underlying circuits.
Highlights
Tool use is one of the most remarkable cognitive skills in humans
The results showed increased response times (RT) for function matching after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on anterior temporal lobe (ATL), as well as increased RT for manipulation matching after rTMS on inferior parietal lobule (IPL)
Performance was better in both the ATL and the IPL stimulation condition compared to sham
Summary
Tool use is one of the most remarkable cognitive skills in humans. At least two cognitive components seem involved: recognition of the tool’s function and correct manipulation. To purposefully use a particular tool, one should be able to correctly identify its function and retrieve how to manipulate it. These two components (recognition of tool function and memory of manipulation) may be underpinned by separable brain regions. Tool-use deficits have been observed after damage of the left parietal lobe, often described with the term ‘‘apraxia’’, especially as ‘‘ideational apraxia’’ (Heilman and Rothi, 1993) or ‘‘conceptual apraxia’’ (Ochipa et al, 1992; Zadikoff and Lang, 2005). Patients with apraxia manifest difficulty in using objects properly, despite preserved physical function of the limbs (Gonzalez Rothi and Heilman, 1997)
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