Abstract
BackgroundCerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is widely considered as a promising non-invasive tool to foster motor performance and learning in health and disease. The results of previous studies, however, are inconsistent. Our group failed to provide evidence for an effect of cerebellar tDCS on learning of a complex whole body dynamic balance task in young and healthy participants. Ceiling effects in the young study population are one possible explanation for the negative findings.MethodsIn the present study, we therefore tested 40 middle-aged healthy participants between the ages of 50 to 65 years. Participants received either anodal or sham cerebellar tDCS using a double-blinded study design while performing a balance task on a Lafayette Instrument 16,030 stability platform®. Mean platform angle and mean balance time were assessed as outcome measures.ResultsSignificant learning effects were found in all participants. Balancing performance and learning rate was significantly less in the group of middle-aged adults compared to our previous group of young adults. No significant effects of cerebellar tDCS were observed.ConclusionsOur findings are in line with other studies that have failed to prove robust effects of cerebellar tDCS on motor learning. The present findings, however, do not exclude cerebellar tDCS effects. tDCS effects may be more prominent after repeated stimulation, using other stimulus parameters, in patient populations, or in other motor learning tasks.Trial registrationNot applicable.
Highlights
Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation is widely considered as a promising noninvasive tool to foster motor performance and learning in health and disease
Modeling of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) electric field (EF) distribution Cerebellar stimulation effects as revealed by modelling of the electric field showed the highest values for Crus II bilaterally [0.78 V per meter (V/m)] and lobule VIII bilaterally (0.34 V/m), and lower values for Crus I bilaterally (0.23 V/m) and the vermis/anterior lobe (0.19 V/ m) (Table 1)
In the present study, anodal cerebellar tDCS had no effect on learning of a complex whole body dynamic balance task in healthy middle-aged adults
Summary
Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is widely considered as a promising noninvasive tool to foster motor performance and learning in health and disease. Our group failed to provide evidence for an effect of cerebellar tDCS on learning of a complex whole body dynamic balance task in young and healthy participants. With respect to age-related deterioration and in cerebellar disease, tDCS may have beneficial effects [3, 4]. Adaptive postural control has been shown to be improved by anodal cerebellar tDCS in healthy volunteers [27]. Hardwick and Celnik [16] reported that cerebellar tDCS was able to compensate for age-related decline in a reach adaptation task. Cerebellar tDCS, did not improve acquisition of a complex whole body dynamic balance task [36]. We re-examined possible cerebellar tDCS effects in the same dynamic balance task in middle-aged and healthy adults
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
