Repeated tDCS at clinically-relevant field intensity can boost concurrent motor learning in rats.

ABSTRACT: Electric fields used in clinical trials with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are small, with magnitudes that have yet to demonstrate measurable effects in preclinical animal models. We hypothesized that weak stimulation will nevertheless produce sizable effects, provided that it is applied concurrently with behavioral training, and repeated over multiple sessions. We tested this here in a rodent model of dexterous motor-skill learning. We developed a preparation that allows concurrent stimulation during the performance of a pellet-reaching task in freely behaving rats. The task was automated to minimize experimenter bias. We measured field magnitudes intracranially to calibrate the stimulation current. In this study, only male rats were used. Animals were trained for 20 min

SUBMITTER: Farahani F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11761702 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature