Neuron Degeneration clinical trials

Mental Practice (MP) Combined With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Motor Learning in the Elderly

Scientific background and rationale: Motor sequence learning (MSL) is composed of three phases: initial acquisition or rapid learning occurs during the first practice session, characterized by a rapid increase in motor performance; consolidation comes next, in the following hours, with a stabilization or even an increase in performance without additional practice; finally, slow learning allows long-term memorization of the skills acquired after several practice sessions. Motor sequence learning is an essential ability at any age but is altered with aging. Furthermore, the repetition of movements required for MSL may be tiring for the most vulnerable individuals. There is thus a need to develop the use of alternative and effective methods of MSL in the elderly. Mental practice (MP) based on motor imagery (MI) and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) are such innovative methods that have shown a positive impact on MSL in older adults. On the one hand, motor imagery training relates to mentally practicing movements without actual execution. This method has been shown to advantageously complement or even replace physical practice. Nevertheless, for fine and gross motor skills, the association MP/physical practice (PP) has been little studied in healthy elderly subjects. On the other hand, tDCS is a safe and noninvasive brain stimulation method used to modulate cortical excitability and enhance neuroplasticity. It has been shown that an anodal stimulation of the primary motor cortex (M1) immediately after the acquisition of a sequence of finger movements (manual task) enhanced consolidation in healthy elderly people. These effects have, however, never been tested for more ecological sequential tasks involving the whole body (body task). Aim: The main aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a-tDCS on the consolidation of complex manual and body tasks, after MP alone, PP alone, and MP + PP in older adults. A secondary aim is to test the effects of MP alone, PP alone and MP + PP in the acquisition of these complex manual and body tasks, in older adults. A third aim is to test the evolution of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity between rest and motor imagery of these tasks, and, for motor imagery, before and after training.