The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor sequence learning and upper limb function after stroke
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Authors
Fleming, Melanie K.
Rothwell, John C.
Sztriha, Laszlo
Teo, James T.
Newham, Di J.
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Issue Date
2017
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Article
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Abstract
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.
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Journal
Clinical Neurophysiology
Volume
128
Issue
7