Anodal tDCS over Primary Motor Cortex Provides No Advantage to Learning Motor Sequences via Observation
Joint Authors
Apšvalka, Dace
Ramsey, Richard
Cross, Emily S.
Source
Issue
Vol. 2018, Issue 2018 (31 Dec. 2018), pp.1-14, 14 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2018-03-29
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
14
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
When learning a new motor skill, we benefit from watching others.
It has been suggested that observation of others’ actions can build a motor representation in the observer, and as such, physical and observational learning might share a similar neural basis.
If physical and observational learning share a similar neural basis, then motor cortex stimulation during observational practice should similarly enhance learning by observation as it does through physical practice.
Here, we used transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) to address whether anodal stimulation to M1 during observational training facilitates skill acquisition.
Participants learned keypress sequences across four consecutive days of observational practice while receiving active or sham stimulation over M1.
The results demonstrated that active stimulation provided no advantage to skill learning over sham stimulation.
Further, Bayesian analyses revealed evidence in favour of the null hypothesis across our dependent measures.
Our findings therefore provide no support for the hypothesis that excitatory M1 stimulation can enhance observational learning in a similar manner to physical learning.
More generally, the results add to a growing literature that suggests that the effects of tDCS tend to be small, inconsistent, and hard to replicate.
Future tDCS research should consider these factors when designing experimental procedures.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Apšvalka, Dace& Ramsey, Richard& Cross, Emily S.. 2018. Anodal tDCS over Primary Motor Cortex Provides No Advantage to Learning Motor Sequences via Observation. Neural Plasticity،Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-14.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1209936
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Apšvalka, Dace…[et al.]. Anodal tDCS over Primary Motor Cortex Provides No Advantage to Learning Motor Sequences via Observation. Neural Plasticity No. 2018 (2018), pp.1-14.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1209936
American Medical Association (AMA)
Apšvalka, Dace& Ramsey, Richard& Cross, Emily S.. Anodal tDCS over Primary Motor Cortex Provides No Advantage to Learning Motor Sequences via Observation. Neural Plasticity. 2018. Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-14.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1209936
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1209936