AUTHOR=Cole Lauran , Giuffre Adrianna , Ciechanski Patrick , Carlson Helen L. , Zewdie Ephrem , Kuo Hsing-Ching , Kirton Adam 

TITLE=Effects of High-Definition and Conventional Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation on Motor Learning in Children

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2018.00787

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2018.00787

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve motor learning in children. High-definition approaches (HD-tDCS) have not been examined in children.</p><p><bold>Objectives/Hypothesis:</bold> We hypothesized that primary motor cortex HD-tDCS would enhance motor learning but be inferior to tDCS in children.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Twenty-four children were recruited for a randomized, sham-controlled, double-blinded interventional trial (NCT03193580, <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03193580" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03193580</ext-link>) to receive (1) right hemisphere (contralateral) primary motor cortex (M1) 1 mA anodal conventional 1 × 1 tDCS (tDCS), (2) right M1 1 mA anodal 4 × 1 HD-tDCS (HD-tDCS), or (3) sham. Over five consecutive days, participants trained their left hand using the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT<sub>L</sub>). The Jebsen–Taylor Test, Serial Reaction Time Task, and right hand and bimanual PPT were also tested at baseline, post-training, and 6-week retention time (RT).</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Both the tDCS and HD-tDCS groups demonstrated enhanced motor learning compared to sham with effects maintained at 6 weeks. Effect sizes were moderate-to-large for tDCS and HD-tDCS groups at the end of day 4 (Cohen’s <italic>d</italic> tDCS = 0.960, HD-tDCS = 0.766) and day 5 (tDCS = 0.655, HD-tDCS = 0.851). Enhanced motor learning effects were also seen in the untrained hand. HD-tDCS was well tolerated and safe with no adverse effects.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> HD-tDCS and tDCS can enhance motor learning in children. Further exploration is indicated to advance rehabilitation therapies for children with motor disabilities such as cerebral palsy.</p><p><bold>Clinical Trial Registration:</bold><ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://clinicaltrials.gov" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">clinicaltrials.gov</ext-link>, identifier NCT03193580.</p>