Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Nemanich S, Rich T, Gordon A, Friel K, Gillick B
Journal Dev Neurorehabil
Volume 22
Issue 7
Pagination 504-508
Date Published 04/03/2019
ISSN 1751-8431
Keywords Cerebral Palsy, Motor Skills, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Abstract Bimanual skills are important for goal-oriented activities. Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) have deficits in unimanual and bimanual motor control and learning. The application of non-invasive brain stimulation with existing motor training may further promote motor learning; however, the effects of stimulation on bimanual learning have not been examined. Here, we assessed the performance of a novel bimanual skill (modified Speed Stacks task) in eight children with UCP before, during, and after a combined motor training and brain stimulation intervention. Participants received 10 days (120 min/day) of goal-oriented bimanual therapy combined initially with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS, 20 min/day). Results showed task improvement tapered (p < 0.001) during and after the intervention and task variability decreased in 6/8 participants, indicating the potential impact of novel rehabilitation to improve skill learning in children with UCP. Future work is required to understand how both tDCS and bimanual training contribute to learning bimanual tasks.
DOI 10.1080/17518423.2019.1600065
PubMed ID 30943373
PubMed Central ID PMC6710148
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