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Single-Session Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Affects Postural Control Learning and Cerebellar Brain Inhibition in Healthy Individuals

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Abstract

Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) modulates cerebellar activity and postural control. However, the effects of ctDCS on postural control learning and the mechanisms associated with these effects remain unclear. To examine the effects of single-session ctDCS on postural control learning and cerebellar brain inhibition (CBI) of the primary motor cortex in healthy individuals. In this triple-blind, sham-controlled study, 36 participants were allocated randomly to one of three groups: (1) anodal ctDCS group, (2) cathodal ctDCS group, and (3) sham ctDCS group. ctDCS (2 mA) was applied to the cerebellar brain for 20 min prior to six blocks of standing postural control training (each block consisted of five trials of a 30-s tracking task). CBI and corticospinal excitability of the tibialis anterior muscle were assessed at baseline, immediately after, 1 day after, and 7 days after training. Skill acquisition following training was significantly reduced in both the anodal and cathodal ctDCS groups compared with the sham ctDCS group. Changes in performance measured 1 day after and 7 days after training did not differ among the groups. In the anodal ctDCS group, CBI significantly increased after training, whereas corticospinal excitability decreased. Anodal ctDCS-induced CBI changes were correlated with the learning formation of postural control (r = 0.55, P = 0.04). Single-session anodal and cathodal ctDCS could suppress the skill acquisition of postural control in healthy individuals. The CBI changes induced by anodal ctDCS may affect the learning process of postural control.

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Funding

Partial financial support was received from the Funds for a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (18 K17723) to Tomofumi Yamaguchi.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 260 Kamiyanagi, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata, 990-2212, Japan

    Natsuki Katagiri, Saki Kawakami, Sayuri Okuyama, Tadaki Koseki, Daisuke Kudo, Shigehiro Namba & Tomofumi Yamaguchi

  2. Faculty of Rehabilitation, School of Health Sciences, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake-shi, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan

    Shigeo Tanabe

  3. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan

    Tomofumi Yamaguchi

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  1. Natsuki Katagiri
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Correspondence to Tomofumi Yamaguchi.

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Research Involving Human Participants

This study was approved by the Ethics Review Board of Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences (approval number: 1806-06) and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards established by the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Katagiri, N., Kawakami, S., Okuyama, S. et al. Single-Session Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Affects Postural Control Learning and Cerebellar Brain Inhibition in Healthy Individuals. Cerebellum 20, 203–211 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-020-01208-5

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