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Walia P, Fu Y, Norfleet J, Schwaitzberg SD, Intes X, De S, Cavuoto L, Dutta A. Brain-behavior analysis of transcranial direct current stimulation effects on a complex surgical motor task. FRONTIERS IN NEUROERGONOMICS 2024; 4:1135729. [PMID: 38234492 PMCID: PMC10790853 DOI: 10.3389/fnrgo.2023.1135729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has demonstrated its potential in enhancing surgical training and performance compared to sham tDCS. However, optimizing its efficacy requires the selection of appropriate brain targets informed by neuroimaging and mechanistic understanding. Previous studies have established the feasibility of using portable brain imaging, combining functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) with tDCS during Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) tasks. This allows concurrent monitoring of cortical activations. Building on these foundations, our study aimed to explore the multi-modal imaging of the brain response using fNIRS and electroencephalogram (EEG) to tDCS targeting the right cerebellar (CER) and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) during a challenging FLS suturing with intracorporeal knot tying task. Involving twelve novices with a medical/premedical background (age: 22-28 years, two males, 10 females with one female with left-hand dominance), our investigation sought mechanistic insights into tDCS effects on brain areas related to error-based learning, a fundamental skill acquisition mechanism. The results revealed that right CER tDCS applied to the posterior lobe elicited a statistically significant (q < 0.05) brain response in bilateral prefrontal areas at the onset of the FLS task, surpassing the response seen with sham tDCS. Additionally, right CER tDCS led to a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in FLS scores compared to sham tDCS. Conversely, the left PFC tDCS did not yield a statistically significant brain response or improvement in FLS performance. In conclusion, right CER tDCS demonstrated the activation of bilateral prefrontal brain areas, providing valuable mechanistic insights into the effects of CER tDCS on FLS peformance. These insights motivate future investigations into the effects of CER tDCS on error-related perception-action coupling through directed functional connectivity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pushpinder Walia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Yaoyu Fu
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Jack Norfleet
- U.S. Army Futures Command, Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center STTC, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Steven D. Schwaitzberg
- University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Xavier Intes
- Center for Modeling, Simulation, and Imaging in Medicine, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Suvranu De
- Center for Modeling, Simulation, and Imaging in Medicine, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Lora Cavuoto
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Anirban Dutta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
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