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Open Access 01-07-2009 | Research Note

Enhancement of pinch force in the lower leg by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation

Authors: Satoshi Tanaka, Takashi Hanakawa, Manabu Honda, Katsumi Watanabe

Published in: Experimental Brain Research | Issue 3/2009

Abstract

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a procedure to polarize human brain. It has been reported that tDCS over the hand motor cortex transiently improves the performance of hand motor tasks. Here, we investigated whether tDCS could also improve leg motor functions. Ten healthy subjects performed pinch force (PF) and reaction time (RT) tasks using the left leg before, during and after anodal, cathodal or sham tDCS over the leg motor cortex. The anodal tDCS transiently enhanced the maximal leg PF but not RT during its application. Neither cathodal nor sham stimulation changed the performance. None of the interventions affected hand PF or RT, showing the spatial specificity of the effect of tDCS. These results indicate that motor performance of not only the hands but also the legs can be enhanced by anodal tDCS. tDCS may be applicable to the neuro-rehabilitation of patients with leg motor disability.

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Title: Enhancement of pinch force in the lower leg by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation
Authors: Satoshi Tanaka
Takashi Hanakawa
Manabu Honda
Katsumi Watanabe
Publication date: 01-07-2009
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Experimental Brain Research / Issue 3/2009
Print ISSN: 0014-4819
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1106
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-1863-9

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Enhancement of pinch force in the lower leg by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation

Abstract

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