title: The effect of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on motor sequence learning in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: A large number of studies have indicated the effect of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) on the primary motor cortex (M1) during motor skill training. The effects of a-tDCS on different stages of motor sequence learning are not yet completely understood. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the effects of single and multiple sessions of a-tDCS on two different tasks: the sequential finger tapping task/serial reaction time task (SEQTAP/SRTT) and the sequential visual isometric pinch task (SVIPT). We searched electronic databases for M1 a-tDCS studies. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The results indicate that application of multiple sessions of a-tDCS, compared to single session a-tDCS induced a significant improvement in skill in both SEQTAP/SRTT and SVIPT. Retention after a single day and multiple days of a-tDCS was statistically significant for the SEQTAP/SRTT task but not for SVIPT. Therefore, our findings suggest that application of M1 a-tDCS across the three or five consecutive days can be helpful to improve motor sequence learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: fahimeh.hashemirad@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hashemirad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine at Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zoghi
authors.affiliation: Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Monash University Central Clinical School, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Shapour
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaberzadeh
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Corticospinal excitability; Motor sequence learning; Primary motor cortex; Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)