Sensorimotor Robotic Measures of tDCS- and HD-tDCS-Enhanced Motor Learning in Children

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dc.contributor.authorCole, Lauran
dc.contributor.authorDukelow, Sean P.
dc.contributor.authorGiuffre, Adrianna
dc.contributor.authorNettel-Aguirre, Alberto
dc.contributor.authorMetzler, Megan J.
dc.contributor.authorKirton, Adam
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-23T07:11:31Z
dc.date.available2018-12-23T07:11:31Z
dc.date.issued2018-12-18
dc.date.updated2018-12-23T07:11:31Z
dc.description.abstractTranscranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) enhances motor learning in adults. We have demonstrated that anodal tDCS and high-definition (HD) tDCS of the motor cortex can enhance motor skill acquisition in children, but behavioral mechanisms remain unknown. Robotics can objectively quantify complex sensorimotor functions to better understand mechanisms of motor learning. We aimed to characterize changes in sensorimotor function induced by tDCS and HD-tDCS paired motor learning in children within an interventional trial. Healthy, right-handed children (12–18 y) were randomized to anodal tDCS, HD-tDCS, or sham targeting the right primary motor cortex during left-hand Purdue pegboard test (PPT) training over five consecutive days. A KINARM robotic protocol quantifying proprioception, kinesthesia, visually guided reaching, and an object hit task was completed at baseline, posttraining, and six weeks later. Effects of the treatment group and training on changes in sensorimotor parameters were explored. Twenty-four children (median 15.5 years, 52% female) completed all measures. Compared to sham, both tDCS and HD-tDCS demonstrated enhanced motor learning with medium effect sizes. At baseline, multiple KINARM measures correlated with PPT performance. Following training, visually guided reaching in all groups was faster and required less corrective movements in the trained arm ((2) = 9.250, ). Aspects of kinesthesia including initial direction error improved across groups with sustained effects at follow-up ((2) = 9.000, ). No changes with training or stimulation were observed for position sense. For the object hit task, the HD-tDCS group moved more quickly with the right hand compared to sham at posttraining ((2) = 6.255, ). Robotics can quantify complex sensorimotor function within neuromodulator motor learning trials in children. Correlations with PPT performance suggest that KINARM metrics can assess motor learning effects. Understanding how tDCS and HD-tDCS enhance motor learning may be improved with robotic outcomes though specific mechanisms remain to be defined. Exploring mechanisms of neuromodulation may advance therapeutic approaches in children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
dc.description.versionPeer Reviewed
dc.identifier.citationLauran Cole, Sean P. Dukelow, Adrianna Giuffre, Alberto Nettel-Aguirre, Megan J. Metzler, and Adam Kirton, “Sensorimotor Robotic Measures of tDCS- and HD-tDCS-Enhanced Motor Learning in Children,” Neural Plasticity, vol. 2018, Article ID 5317405, 13 pages, 2018. doi:10.1155/2018/5317405
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/35662
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5317405
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/109382
dc.language.rfc3066en
dc.rights.holderCopyright © 2018 Lauran Cole et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
dc.titleSensorimotor Robotic Measures of tDCS- and HD-tDCS-Enhanced Motor Learning in Children
dc.typeJournal Article
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