Modulating human procedural learning by cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation. 2013

Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
Centro Clinico per la Neurostimolazione, le Neurotecnologie ed i Disordini del Movimento, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

Neuroimaging studies suggest that the cerebellum contributes to human cognitive processing, particularly procedural learning. This type of learning is often described as implicit learning and involves automatic, associative, and unintentional learning processes. Our aim was to investigate whether cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) influences procedural learning as measured by the serial reaction time task (SRTT), in which subjects make speeded key press responses to visual cues. A preliminary modeling study demonstrated that our electrode montage (active electrode over the cerebellum with an extra-cephalic reference) generated the maximum electric field amplitude in the cerebellum. We enrolled 21 healthy subjects (aged 20-49 years). Participants did the SRTT, a visual analogue scale and a visual attention task, before and 35 min after receiving 20-min anodal and sham cerebellar tDCS in a randomized order. To avoid carry-over effects, experimental sessions were held at least 1 week apart. For our primary outcome measure (difference in RTs for random and repeated blocks) anodal versus sham tDCS, RTs were significantly slower for sham tDCS than for anodal cerebellar tDCS (p = 0.04), demonstrating that anodal tDCS influenced implicit learning processes. When we assessed RTs for procedural learning across the one to eight blocks, we found that RTs changed significantly after anodal stimulation (interaction "time" × "blocks 1/8": anodal, p = 0.006), but after sham tDCS, they remained unchanged (p = 0.094). No significant changes were found in the other variables assessed. Our finding that anodal cerebellar tDCS improves an implicit learning type essential to the development of several motor skills or cognitive activity suggests that the cerebellum has a critical role in procedural learning. tDCS could be a new tool for improving procedural learning in daily life in healthy subjects and for correcting abnormal learning in neuropsychiatric disorders.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007858 Learning Relatively permanent change in behavior that is the result of past experience or practice. The concept includes the acquisition of knowledge. Phenomenography
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010775 Photic Stimulation Investigative technique commonly used during ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY in which a series of bright light flashes or visual patterns are used to elicit brain activity. Stimulation, Photic,Visual Stimulation,Photic Stimulations,Stimulation, Visual,Stimulations, Photic,Stimulations, Visual,Visual Stimulations
D011930 Reaction Time The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed. Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D002531 Cerebellum The part of brain that lies behind the BRAIN STEM in the posterior base of skull (CRANIAL FOSSA, POSTERIOR). It is also known as the "little brain" with convolutions similar to those of CEREBRAL CORTEX, inner white matter, and deep cerebellar nuclei. Its function is to coordinate voluntary movements, maintain balance, and learn motor skills. Cerebella,Corpus Cerebelli,Parencephalon,Cerebellums,Parencephalons
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D050781 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation A technique that involves the use of electrical coils on the head to generate a brief magnetic field which reaches the CEREBRAL CORTEX. It is coupled with ELECTROMYOGRAPHY response detection to assess cortical excitability by the threshold required to induce MOTOR EVOKED POTENTIALS. This method is also used for BRAIN MAPPING, to study NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, and as a substitute for ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY for treating DEPRESSION. Induction of SEIZURES limits its clinical usage. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Paired Pulse,Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Repetitive,Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Single Pulse,Magnetic Stimulation, Transcranial,Magnetic Stimulations, Transcranial,Stimulation, Transcranial Magnetic,Stimulations, Transcranial Magnetic,Transcranial Magnetic Stimulations

Related Publications

Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
October 2018, Schizophrenia bulletin,
Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
January 2016, Frontiers in psychology,
Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
August 2010, Journal of neurophysiology,
Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
January 2014, NeuroImage,
Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
January 2018, Brain stimulation,
Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
April 2013, Experimental brain research,
Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
January 2016, Cerebellum & ataxias,
Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
January 2013, Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference,
Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
March 2014, Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology,
Roberta Ferrucci, and Andre R Brunoni, and Marta Parazzini, and Maurizio Vergari, and Elena Rossi, and Manuela Fumagalli, and Francesca Mameli, and Manuela Rosa, and Gaia Giannicola, and Stefano Zago, and Alberto Priori
January 2012, Frontiers in psychiatry,
Copied contents to your clipboard!