TY  - JOUR
U1  - Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
A1  - Jooss, Andreas
A1  - Haberbosch, Linus
A1  - Köhn, Arvid
A1  - Rönnefarth, Maria
A1  - Bathe-Peters, Rouven
A1  - Kozarzewski, Leonard
A1  - Fleischmann, Robert
A1  - Scholz, Michael
A1  - Schmidt, Sein
A1  - Brandt, Stephan A.
T1  - Motor Task-Dependent Dissociated Effects of Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation in a Finger-Tapping Task Versus a Go/No-Go Task on Corticospinal Excitability and Task Performance
JF  - Frontiers in Neuroscience
N2  - Background and Objective: Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) is an emerging non-invasive brain stimulation technique to modulate brain function, with previous studies highlighting its considerable benefits in therapeutic stimulation of the motor system. However, high variability of results and bidirectional task-dependent effects limit more widespread clinical application. Task dependency largely results from a lack of understanding of the interaction between externally applied tRNS and the endogenous state of neural activity during stimulation. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the task dependency of tRNS-induced neuromodulation in the motor system using a finger-tapping task (FT) versus a go/no-go task (GNG). We hypothesized that the tasks would modulate tRNS’ effects on corticospinal excitability (CSE) and task performance in opposite directions.
Methods: Thirty healthy subjects received 10 min of tRNS of the dominant primary motor cortex in a double-blind, sham-controlled study design. tRNS was applied during two well-established tasks tied to diverging brain states. Accordingly, participants were randomly assigned to two equally-sized groups: the first group performed a simple motor training task (FT task), known primarily to increase CSE, while the second group performed an inhibitory control task (go/no-go task) associated with inhibition of CSE. To establish task-dependent effects of tRNS, CSE was evaluated prior to- and after stimulation with navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Results: In an ‘activating’ motor task, tRNS during FT significantly facilitated CSE. FT task performance improvements, shown by training-related reductions in intertap intervals and increased number of finger taps, were similar for both tRNS and sham stimulation. In an ‘inhibitory’ motor task, tRNS during GNG left CSE unchanged while inhibitory control was enhanced as shown by slowed reaction times and enhanced task accuracy during and after stimulation.
Conclusion: We provide evidence that tRNS-induced neuromodulatory effects are task-dependent and that resulting enhancements are specific to the underlying task-dependent brain state. While mechanisms underlying this effect require further investigation, these findings highlight the potential of tRNS in enhancing task-dependent brain states to modulate human behavior.
KW  - -
KW  - random noise stimulation
KW  - transcranial electrical stimulation
KW  - task dependency
KW  - finger-tapping task
KW  - go/no-go task
KW  - corticospinal excitability
KW  - neuroplasticity
Y1  - 2019
UN  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:9-opus-32403
SN  - 1662-453X
SS  - 1662-453X
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00161
DO  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00161
VL  - 13
PB  - Frontiers Media S.A.
ER  -