Facilitation of motor learning by non-invasive brain stimulation

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Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS) is a non-invasive procedure of cortical stimulation, where weak direct currents polarize the target brain regions(Tanaka and Watanabe, 2009). In the present project, I have demonstrated that anodal tDCS over the lower limb motor cortex can transiently enhance the maximal force of the lower extremities in both healthy participants and subcortical stroke patients(Tanaka et al., 2011). Physiologically, it has been believed that tDCS modulated the brain activity only in the stimulated cortical region. However, my study has shown that tDCS modulated the brain activities not only in the stimulated cortical region but also in the subcortical region in both human and rat animal model. Further understanding of behavioral and physiological effects of tDCS will be relevant for the clinical application of tDCS.