Enhancing motor sequence learning by focalized transcranial direct current stimulation

学习运动序列的能力是发育中和成年大脑中运动学习的一个重要方面，并且已知在正常衰老和与年龄相关的疾病中会下降。运动技能学习与日常生活中的工作和休闲环境高度相关。因此，本项目将专门研究个体化局部经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）增强这一过程的神经机制和预测因素。从长远来看，该项目的成果将有助于改善神经系统疾病患者的治疗（例如，中风，帕金森病）影响运动学习，并需要在上下文康复。在RU的更广泛的背景下，本研究是调查tDCS对跨功能域的学习和记忆形成的影响的八个项目之一（项目1-8）。这些经验项目所追求的高度系统和协调的方法将首次允许分析潜在的神经机制和行为刺激反应的预测因素，不仅在每个项目中，而且在不同的任务和功能域中（在项目9中）。目前的项目将提供关于tDCS如何调节运动序列学习的独特信息，这主要取决于皮质-纹状体回路，从而补充了项目6（PI Timmann）中tDCS诱导的小脑依赖性运动学习增强的研究。总的来说，RU的实证项目的结果将增加我们目前对tDCS诱导的神经网络效应，其区域特异性和刺激效应个体间变异性的机制的理解。从方法论的角度来看，这些项目中获得的数据将有助于优化和验证电流的生物物理模型（P9+10），从而推动tDCS在健康和疾病方面的未来实验和转化应用

The ability to learn motor sequences is a crucial aspect of motor learning in the developing and adult brain and known to decline in normal aging and age-associated diseases. Motor learning is highly relevant for everyday life in work and leisure contexts. This project will thus specifically investigate the neural mechanisms and predictors underlying enhancement of this process by individualized, focal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). In the long-run, outcomes of this project will contribute to improving treatment of patients with neurological diseases (e.g., stroke, Parkinson´s disease) affecting motor learning, and requiring it in the context rehabilitation. Within the broader context of the RU, the present study is one of eight projects investigating tDCS effects on learning and memory formation across functional domains (Projects 1-8). The highly systematic and coordinated approach pursued by these empirical projects will allow for the first time analyzing the underlying neural mechanisms and predictors of behavioural stimulation response not only within each project, but also across different tasks and functional domains (in Project 9).The current project will contribute unique information on how tDCS modulates motor sequence learning, which primarily depends on cortico-striatal loops, thereby complementing the investigation of tDCS-induced enhancement of cerebellar-dependent motor learning in Project 6 (PI Timmann). Collectively, the results of the empirical projects of the RU will increase our current understanding of tDCS-induced neural network effects, their regional specificity and the mechanisms underlying inter-individual variability of stimulation effects. From a methodological point of view, data acquired in these projects will contribute to optimizing and validating biophysical models of current flow (in P9+10), thereby advancing future experimental and translational applications of tDCS in health and disease