Effects of TDCS on Tactile Perception Depend on Tactile Expertise in Both Musicians and Non-Musicians

Overview

Journal Brain Sci

Publisher MDPI

Date 2020 Nov 17

PMID 33198132

Citations 2

Authors

Ben Godde

Lev Dadashev

Ahmed A Karim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Brain plasticity in the somatosensory cortex and tactile performance can be facilitated by brain stimulation. Here, we investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on tactile perception in musicians and non-musicians to elucidate how tDCS-effects might depend on tactile expertise. On three separate days, 17 semi-professional musicians (e.g., piano or violin players) and 16 non-musicians aged 18-27 years received 15 min of 1 mA anodal (a-tDCS), cathodal (c-tDCS) or sham tDCS in a pseudorandomized design. Pre and post tDCS, tactile sensitivity (Touch Detection Task; TDT) and discrimination performance (Grating Orientation Task; GOT) were assessed. For further analysis, the weekly hours of instrument-playing and computer-typing were combined into a "tactile experience" variable. For GOT, but not TDT, a significant group effect at baseline was revealed with musicians performing better than non-musicians. TDT thresholds were significantly reduced after a-tDCS but not c-tDCS or sham stimulation. While both musicians' and non-musicians' performance improved after anodal stimulation, neither musical nor tactile expertise was directly associated with the magnitude of this improvement. Low performers in TDT with high tactile experience profited most from a-tDCS. We conclude that tactile expertise may facilitate somatosensory cortical plasticity and tactile learning in low performers.

Citing Articles

Less might be more: 1 mA but not 1.5 mA of tDCS improves tactile orientation discrimination.

Khalil R, Karim A, Godde B IBRO Neurosci Rep. 2023; 15:186-192.

PMID: 37746157 PMC: 10511473. DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2023.08.003.

Effects of tDCS on Language Recovery in Post-Stroke Aphasia: A Pilot Study Investigating Clinical Parameters and White Matter Change with Diffusion Imaging.

Soliman R, Tax C, Abo-Elfetoh N, Karim A, Youssef A, Kamal D Brain Sci. 2021; 11(10).

PMID: 34679342 PMC: 8534035. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11101277.

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