title: A single session of 1 mA anodal tDCS-supported motor training does not improve motor performance in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of atDCS on motor performance in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Previously, anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) has been shown to improve motor performance in healthy subjects and neurodegenerative populations. However, the effect of atDCS on motor performance is not examined in MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current study, a sham controlled double-blind crossover design was used to evaluate the effect of 20 minutes of 1 mA atDCS or sham tDCS (stDCS) on a unimanual motor sequence-training task, consisting of sequential finger presses on a computer keyboard with the most impaired hand. Patients received stimulation (atDCS or stDCS) during motor training. tDCS was applied over the primary motor cortex contralateral to the most impaired hand. Motor performance was assessed immediately before, during and 30 minutes after stimulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although we need to be careful with the interpretation of the data due to lack of power, our results showed no significant effect of atDCS on motor performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that atDCS-supported motor training was not able to improve motor performance more than sham-supported motor training. Possibly, the effects of atDCS are mediated by specific MS-related characteristics. Furthermore, increasing atDCS intensity and offering multiple stimulation sessions might be necessary to optimize motor performance resulting from atDCS-supported motor training.
authors.affiliation: BIOMED, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium REVAL Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium Motor Control Laboratory, Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Group Biomedical Sciences, K.U. Leuven, Tervuursevest, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Raf L J
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Meesen
authors.affiliation: I-BioStat, Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium and Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thijs
authors.affiliation: BIOMED, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium REVAL Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Daphnie J F
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Leenus
authors.affiliation: BIOMED, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium REVAL Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium Motor Control Laboratory, Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Group Biomedical Sciences, K.U. Leuven, Tervuursevest, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cuypers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; motor training; neural rehabilitation; tDCS; transcranial direct current stimulation