title: Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Area Promotes Implicit Motor Learning in a Golf Putting Task.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Implicit motor learning is characterized by low dependence on working memory and stable performance despite stress, fatigue, or multi-tasking. However, current paradigms for implicit motor learning are based on behavioral interventions that are often task-specific and limited when applied in practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) area during motor learning suppressed working memory activity and reduced explicit verbal-analytical involvement in movement control, thereby promoting implicit motor learning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven healthy individuals practiced a golf putting task during a Training Phase while receiving either real cathodal tDCS stimulation over the left DLPFC area or sham stimulation. Their performance was assessed during a Test phase on another day. Verbal working memory capacity was assessed before and after the Training Phase, and before the Test Phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to sham stimulation, real stimulation suppressed verbal working memory activity after the Training Phase, but enhanced golf putting performance during the Training Phase and the Test Phase, especially when participants were required to multi-task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cathodal tDCS over the left DLPFC may foster implicit motor learning and performance in complex real-life motor tasks that occur during sports, surgery or motor rehabilitation.
authors: Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: ffzhu@hku.hk.
authors: Frank F
authors: FF
authors: Zhu
authors: Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Andrew Y
authors: AY
authors: Yeung
authors: Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Leeds Beckett University, United Kingdom.
authors: Jamie M
authors: JM
authors: Poolton
authors: Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Tatia M C
authors: TM
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Gilberto K K
authors: GK
authors: Leung
authors: Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Sport and Leisure Studies, University of Waikato, New Zealand.
authors: Rich S W
authors: RS
authors: Masters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006055:Golf / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cathodal tDCS; Implicit motor learning; Left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; Verbal working memory