Miyaguchi S, Inukai Y, Mitsumoto S, Otsuru N, Onishi H. Gamma-transcranial alternating current stimulation on the cerebellum and supplementary motor area improves bimanual motor skill.
Behav Brain Res 2022;
424:113805. [PMID:
35182606 DOI:
10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113805]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Bimanual movements require sophisticated coordination of both hands. For improving bimanual motor skills, previous studies employed non-invasive brain stimulation methods to evaluate their effects on symmetrical and/or gross bimanual motor skills. However, asymmetrical and elaborate movements were not sufficiently improved. Studies using non-invasive brain stimulation have examined the effects of stimulation on the primary and supplementary motor areas (SMA),) but not on the cerebellar regions.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether the transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which modulates oscillations in the cerebral cortex, of the cerebellum and SMA improves bimanual movements.
METHODS
Bimanual movements were assessed in 22 healthy young adults (mean age: 21.3 ± 1.5 years) via 13 trials of the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT). A DC stimulator delivered 70Hz tACS (γ-tACS) at 1mA intensity via electrodes placed over the SMA, cerebellum and left shoulder in 5s fade in/out cycles of 5s for a total stimulus duration of 60s for in each trial. Four stimulation conditions were applied and compared for statistical differences.
RESULTS
The γ-tACS of the cerebellum, γ-tACS of the SMA and simultaneous stimulation of both regions caused significant improvement in PPT performance scores. The γ-tACS of the cerebellum improved PPT performance in all subjects and was more effective than the γ-tACS of the SMA.
CONCLUSION
The γ-tACS of the cerebellum effectively and reliably improves complex bimanual motor skills. Although the neural mechanisms of the stimulation effect remain unclear, these results can guide the future development of new stimulation methods for improving bimanual motor skills.
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