Using tDCS to Enhance Learning of a New Walking Pattern
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 40 |
| Updated: | 4/4/2019 |
| Start Date: | July 16, 2018 |
| End Date: | July 3, 2019 |
| Contact: | Susanne M Morton, PhD, PT |
| Email: | smmorton@udel.edu |
| Phone: | 302-831-4235 |
The ability to change walking patterns is important for daily tasks such as stepping over an
obstacle. This change of walking pattern can occur in a strategic manner, i.e., consciously
making one step longer or shorter. Healthy individuals can learn a new walking pattern
through perturbed visual feedback of their walking information (Kim et al., 2015; Kim et al.,
2017). This type of learning is thought to largely involve explicit strategy. Transcranial
direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that can
enhance learning of some motor tasks (Reis et al., 2009), and primarily has been studied in
the upper extremity. In locomotor learning, prior recent work by the investigators has
suggested that tDCS does not affect non-strategy based locomotor learning, and the
investigators speculate that tDCS may benefit learning of strategic tasks instead. The
purpose of this study is to determine if tDCS can enhance learning and retention of a new
walking pattern in a strategy-based, visually guided locomotor task in healthy individuals.
Two groups of young, healthy participants will be recruited to learn a new walking pattern
through perturbed visual feedback, with retention of learning tested on the second day. One
group will receive tDCS, which is expected to enhance learning. The other group will receive
placebo stimulation and serve as a control. Results from this work will provide information
on which type of motor learning is sensitive to enhancement with tDCS, and may help pave the
path for utilizing tDCS for neurorehabilitation.
obstacle. This change of walking pattern can occur in a strategic manner, i.e., consciously
making one step longer or shorter. Healthy individuals can learn a new walking pattern
through perturbed visual feedback of their walking information (Kim et al., 2015; Kim et al.,
2017). This type of learning is thought to largely involve explicit strategy. Transcranial
direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that can
enhance learning of some motor tasks (Reis et al., 2009), and primarily has been studied in
the upper extremity. In locomotor learning, prior recent work by the investigators has
suggested that tDCS does not affect non-strategy based locomotor learning, and the
investigators speculate that tDCS may benefit learning of strategic tasks instead. The
purpose of this study is to determine if tDCS can enhance learning and retention of a new
walking pattern in a strategy-based, visually guided locomotor task in healthy individuals.
Two groups of young, healthy participants will be recruited to learn a new walking pattern
through perturbed visual feedback, with retention of learning tested on the second day. One
group will receive tDCS, which is expected to enhance learning. The other group will receive
placebo stimulation and serve as a control. Results from this work will provide information
on which type of motor learning is sensitive to enhancement with tDCS, and may help pave the
path for utilizing tDCS for neurorehabilitation.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18-40 years
- Medically stable and generally healthy
- Able to walk on a treadmill without the use of handrails for 20 minutes at a speed of
1.0 m/s without rest
- Resting heart rate ≤100 beats per minute
- Resting blood pressure ≤140/90 mm Hg
- Willing and able to attend all testing sessions
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any chronic or recent medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal,
cardiovascular, pulmonary, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis
- Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity
- History of serious traumatic head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for more
than 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment
- Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance or more than 1 fall in the last
12 months
- History of brain surgery
- Taking 4 or more medications
- Current or chronic pain located anywhere in the body
- History of seizures
- Currently pregnant (if a female of childbearing age)
- Currently taking any medications that act on the central nervous system
- Implanted pumps or stimulators above the shoulders
- Metal aneurysm, other metal surgical clip placement, or any other metal in the head,
face, or neck, except for dental fillings
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