Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the prefrontal cortex, which non-invasively alters cortical activity, has been established to affect executive functions in humans. We hypothesized that changes in excitability by tDCS, found to improve cognitive functions dependent on moderate prefrontal cortex activity, would operate similarly in animals as in humans. To verify this we performed experiments using a rat behavioral model of visuospatial working memory and skill learning paired with tDCS of the frontal cortex. The effect of anodal/cathodal tDCS was examined in three sessions using the allothetic place avoidance alternation task (APAAT) and later re-examined without stimulation. Stimulation had no measurable short term effect on on-going place avoidance learning. However, in the follow-up session on day 21 the rats previously treated with cathodal tDCS showed significantly more efficient place avoidance and skill retention in comparison to the controls. This demonstrates a long-term benefit of diminished excitability by frontal tDCS when paired with training on working memory and skill learning in a novel task. The presented behavioral model provides a tool to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of how tDCS modulates neural network function to support successful behavior.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 452-460 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Neurobiology of Learning and Memory |
| Volume | 96 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2011 |
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Keywords
- Allothetic place avoidance alternation task
- Anodal/cathodal tDCS
- Prefrontal cortex
- Skill learning
- Visuospatial working memory
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Cite this
Cumulative benefits of frontal transcranial direct current stimulation on visuospatial working memory training and skill learning in rats. / Dockery, Colleen A.; Liebetanz, David; Birbaumer, Niels; Malinowska, Monika; Wesierska, Malgorzata J.
In: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Vol. 96, No. 3, 10.2011, p. 452-460.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cumulative benefits of frontal transcranial direct current stimulation on visuospatial working memory training and skill learning in rats
AU - Dockery, Colleen A.
AU - Liebetanz, David
AU - Birbaumer, Niels
AU - Malinowska, Monika
AU - Wesierska, Malgorzata J.
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the prefrontal cortex, which non-invasively alters cortical activity, has been established to affect executive functions in humans. We hypothesized that changes in excitability by tDCS, found to improve cognitive functions dependent on moderate prefrontal cortex activity, would operate similarly in animals as in humans. To verify this we performed experiments using a rat behavioral model of visuospatial working memory and skill learning paired with tDCS of the frontal cortex. The effect of anodal/cathodal tDCS was examined in three sessions using the allothetic place avoidance alternation task (APAAT) and later re-examined without stimulation. Stimulation had no measurable short term effect on on-going place avoidance learning. However, in the follow-up session on day 21 the rats previously treated with cathodal tDCS showed significantly more efficient place avoidance and skill retention in comparison to the controls. This demonstrates a long-term benefit of diminished excitability by frontal tDCS when paired with training on working memory and skill learning in a novel task. The presented behavioral model provides a tool to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of how tDCS modulates neural network function to support successful behavior.
AB - Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the prefrontal cortex, which non-invasively alters cortical activity, has been established to affect executive functions in humans. We hypothesized that changes in excitability by tDCS, found to improve cognitive functions dependent on moderate prefrontal cortex activity, would operate similarly in animals as in humans. To verify this we performed experiments using a rat behavioral model of visuospatial working memory and skill learning paired with tDCS of the frontal cortex. The effect of anodal/cathodal tDCS was examined in three sessions using the allothetic place avoidance alternation task (APAAT) and later re-examined without stimulation. Stimulation had no measurable short term effect on on-going place avoidance learning. However, in the follow-up session on day 21 the rats previously treated with cathodal tDCS showed significantly more efficient place avoidance and skill retention in comparison to the controls. This demonstrates a long-term benefit of diminished excitability by frontal tDCS when paired with training on working memory and skill learning in a novel task. The presented behavioral model provides a tool to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of how tDCS modulates neural network function to support successful behavior.
KW - Allothetic place avoidance alternation task
KW - Anodal/cathodal tDCS
KW - Prefrontal cortex
KW - Skill learning
KW - Visuospatial working memory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80053592717&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80053592717&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.nlm.2011.06.018
DO - 10.1016/j.nlm.2011.06.018
M3 - Article
VL - 96
SP - 452
EP - 460
JO - Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
JF - Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
SN - 1074-7427
IS - 3
ER -