Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics (CNP) and Brain Mind Institute (BMI), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines 9, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland.
Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Center for Neuroprosthetics (CNP) and Brain Mind Institute (BMI), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL Valais), Sion, Switzerland.
Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 19;11(1):1756. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-81154-2.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)-based interventions for augmenting motor learning are gaining interest in systems neuroscience and clinical research. Current approaches focus largely on monofocal motorcortical stimulation. Innovative stimulation protocols, accounting for motor learning related brain network interactions also, may further enhance effect sizes. Here, we tested different stimulation approaches targeting the cerebro-cerebellar loop. Forty young, healthy participants trained a fine motor skill with concurrent tDCS in four sessions over two days, testing the following conditions: (1) monofocal motorcortical, (2) sham, (3) monofocal cerebellar, or (4) sequential multifocal motorcortico-cerebellar stimulation in a double-blind, parallel design. Skill retention was assessed after circa 10 and 20 days. Furthermore, potential underlying mechanisms were studied, applying paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging-based techniques. Multisession motorcortical stimulation facilitated skill acquisition, when compared with sham. The data failed to reveal beneficial effects of monofocal cerebellar or additive effects of sequential multifocal motorcortico-cerebellar stimulation. Multimodal multiple linear regression modelling identified baseline task performance and structural integrity of the bilateral superior cerebellar peduncle as the most influential predictors for training success. Multisession application of motorcortical tDCS in several daily sessions may further boost motor training efficiency. This has potential implications for future rehabilitation trials.
经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）干预措施可增强运动学习能力，在系统神经科学和临床研究中受到关注。目前的方法主要集中在单焦点运动皮质刺激上。创新的刺激方案，考虑到与运动学习相关的大脑网络相互作用，也可能进一步提高效果大小。在这里，我们测试了针对脑-小脑回路的不同刺激方法。40 名年轻、健康的参与者在两天内的四个疗程中接受了经颅直流电刺激训练一项精细运动技能，测试了以下条件：（1）单焦点运动皮质，（2）假刺激，（3）单焦点小脑，或（4）在双盲、平行设计中进行顺序多焦点运动皮质-小脑刺激。在大约 10 天和 20 天后评估技能保留情况。此外，应用成对脉冲经颅磁刺激和基于多模态磁共振成像的技术研究了潜在的潜在机制。与假刺激相比，多疗程运动皮质刺激促进了技能的获得。数据未能显示单焦点小脑刺激的有益效果或顺序多焦点运动皮质-小脑刺激的附加效果。多模态多元线性回归模型确定了基线任务表现和双侧上小脑脚的结构完整性是训练成功的最具影响力的预测因素。在几个日常疗程中应用多疗程运动皮质 tDCS 可能会进一步提高运动训练的效率。这对未来的康复试验具有潜在的影响。
