Does tDCS Enhance Complex Motor Skill Acquisition? Evidence from a Golf-Putting Task.

UNLABELLED

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates cortical excitability, thus inducing improvements in motor learning of simple tasks. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of different tDCS conditions-anodal stimulation over the motor cortex (M1), anodal and cathodal stimulation over the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and sham-on the online and offline learning of a complex accuracy task (golf-putting) in novice golfers.

METHODS

A total of 40 young, healthy subjects (24 men, 16 women) without previous golf experience were randomly distributed in four groups receiving sham, anodal M1, anodal PFC or cathodal PFC tDCS. All subjects participated in two consecutive sessions. In the first session, they performed 15 blocks of 10 golf-putting along with tDCS stimulation. After 24 h, they performed the same task without tDCS.

RESULTS

Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant improvement in performance during the two consecutive golf-putting sessions regardless of the site and the stimulation conditions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that tDCS over M1 or PFC does not confer additional benefits in the acquisition of complex, full-body motor skills such as golf-putting.