Transcranial direct current stimulation at training can improve subsequent consolidation of a visual perceptual skill

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Transcranial direct current stimulation at training can improve subsequent consolidation of a visual perceptual skill Katia Boumghar1*, Katja Laske1, Matthias Mölle1, Jan Born1 and Lisa Marshall1 1 Department of Neuroendocrinology, University of Lübeck, Germany In humans, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is used to induce cortical polarization and excitability shifts which can result in acute as well as longer lasting effects. Here we investigated at the behavioral level the effects of cathodal and anodal tDCS applied during learning on the overnight improvement in a visual texture discrimination task (VDT). The VDT requires learning of a procedural skill in which robust improvement is typically obtained only after post-training retention periods containing sleep. In the VDT learning and retest are spaced 24h apart. On each trial, subjects fix a central cross and activate the beginning of each trial consisting of the target and mask for which the time interval of separation (stimulus-to-mask-onset, SOA) decreases over time. Subjects are to judge the orientation of target-lines (horizontal or vertical). The subjects of both experimental groups receive on one of two weeks either anodal (cathodal) or sham stimulation over V1. Cathodal tDCS applied during learning led to a significant decrease in the discrimination threshold measured at retesting the following day, as compared to a sham stimulation control condition. No acute effect of stimulation during training was found, nor did anodal tDCS affect performance. We propose that the effect of cathodal tDCS in the VDT reflects the ability of endogenous polarization fields as induced by simple neuronal processing steps or attentional shifts to impact latent improvement in performance. Differences in the early component of the visual potential dependent upon learning on the VDT task have been reported (Pourtois et al., 2008). In order to assess possible underlying mechanisms the visual evoked potentials (VEP) are currently being recorded. Funding: Supported by BMBF, DFG. Keywords: Learning, tDCS Conference: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI), Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 25 Sep - 29 Sep, 2011. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Poster Sessions: Neural Bases of Memory and Learning Citation: Boumghar K, Laske K, Mölle M, Born J and Marshall L (2011). Transcranial direct current stimulation at training can improve subsequent consolidation of a visual perceptual skill. Conference Abstract: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2011.207.00408 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 24 Nov 2011; Published Online: 28 Nov 2011. * Correspondence: Dr. Katia Boumghar, Department of Neuroendocrinology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany, boumghar@kfg.uni-luebeck.de Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Katia Boumghar Katja Laske Matthias Mölle Jan Born Lisa Marshall Google Katia Boumghar Katja Laske Matthias Mölle Jan Born Lisa Marshall Google Scholar Katia Boumghar Katja Laske Matthias Mölle Jan Born Lisa Marshall PubMed Katia Boumghar Katja Laske Matthias Mölle Jan Born Lisa Marshall Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.