High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation to both primary motor cortices improves unimanual and bimanual dexterity

Abstract While most research on brain stimulation with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targets unimanual motor tasks, little is known about its effects on bimanual motor performance. This study aims to investigate the effects of tDCS on unimanual as well as bimanual motor dexterity. We examined the effects of bihemispheric anodal high-definition tDCS (HD-atDCS) on both primary motor cortices (M1) applied concurrent with unimanual and bimanual motor training. We then measured the effects with the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) and compared them to a sham stimulation. Between a pretest and posttest, 31 healthy, right-handed participants practiced the PPT on three consecutive days and received – simultaneous to motor practice – either HD-atDCS over the left and right M1 (STIM, n  = 16) or a sham stimulation (SHAM, n  = 15). Five to seven days after the posttest, a follow-up test was conducted. Two-way ANOVAs with repeated measures showed significantly increased performance for all PPT-scores ( p   0.001) in both groups. The scores for the right hand, both hands, and overall showed significant TIME x GROUP interactions ( p  .05) with more improved performance for the STIM group, while left hand performance was not significantly altered. These effects were most pronounced in the follow-up test. Thus, we can conclude that a bihemispheric HD-atDCS of both M1’s improves performance of unimanual and bimanual dexterity. The strength of the effects, however, depends on which hand is used in the unimanual task and the type of bimanual task performed.