Effects of tDCS on Tactile Perception Depend on Tactile Expertise in Both Musicians and Non-Musicians
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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/11/843 |
| _version_ | 1827702443055513600 |
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| author | Ben Godde Lev Dadashev Ahmed A. Karim |
| author_facet | Ben Godde Lev Dadashev Ahmed A. Karim |
| author_sort | Ben Godde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:55:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f63129d7c7a747b7a0a382fc37aa3cc7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:55:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-f63129d7c7a747b7a0a382fc37aa3cc72023-11-20T20:40:33ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252020-11-01101184310.3390/brainsci10110843Effects of tDCS on Tactile Perception Depend on Tactile Expertise in Both Musicians and Non-MusiciansBen Godde0Lev Dadashev1Ahmed A. Karim2Department of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University, 28795 Bremen, GermanyDepartment of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University, 28795 Bremen, GermanyDepartment of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University, 28795 Bremen, GermanyBrain 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/11/843tDCSexpertisetactiledetectiondiscrimination |
| spellingShingle | Ben Godde Lev Dadashev Ahmed A. Karim Effects of tDCS on Tactile Perception Depend on Tactile Expertise in Both Musicians and Non-Musicians Brain Sciences tDCS expertise tactile detection discrimination |
| title | Effects of tDCS on Tactile Perception Depend on Tactile Expertise in Both Musicians and Non-Musicians |
| title_full | Effects of tDCS on Tactile Perception Depend on Tactile Expertise in Both Musicians and Non-Musicians |
| title_fullStr | Effects of tDCS on Tactile Perception Depend on Tactile Expertise in Both Musicians and Non-Musicians |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of tDCS on Tactile Perception Depend on Tactile Expertise in Both Musicians and Non-Musicians |
| title_short | Effects of tDCS on Tactile Perception Depend on Tactile Expertise in Both Musicians and Non-Musicians |
| title_sort | effects of tdcs on tactile perception depend on tactile expertise in both musicians and non musicians |
| topic | tDCS expertise tactile detection discrimination |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/11/843 |
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