Later this week, the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science will publish a paper that describes how stimulating the primary motor cortex can help people learn to perform a challenging task involving fine muscle control.
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The new paper involves an approach...called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). In this case, electrodes attached to the person's head run a current directly through the brain; the location of the electrodes can target the current to specific areas of the brain. At the cellular level, these currents are extremely weak, but they're thought to reduce the voltage barrier needed for a nerve to fire, essentially enhancing normal activity. Depending on the area of the brain targeted and whether that's closer to the anode or cathode, tDCS has been observed inducing a variety of effects.
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Strokes and many other types of brain damage often force their victims to relearn basic motor skills, from speech to walking. Given that tDCS is noninvasive and may help speed to recovery of these patients, I'd expect to see tests of its efficacy in the near future.
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