Lack of cerebellar tDCS effects on learning of a complex whole body dynamic balance task in middle-aged (50–65 years) adults

Neurological Research and Practice

W. Ilg¹  N. Ludolph¹  M. Rauscher²  G. Batsikadze²  D. Timmann²  K. M. Steiner²  F. Yavari³  M. A. Nitsche⁴ 

[1] Cognitive Neurology, Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center for Integrative Neuroscience, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany;Department of Neurology, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany;Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany;Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany;Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany;

关键词: Cerebellum;    Transcranial direct current stimulation;    Motor learning;    Aging;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s42466-020-00085-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY