Neuromodulation of motor and cognitive functions
The application of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) or TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) can modulate regional brain activity and interfere with the respective cognitive functions. Depending on the stimulation mode, the stimulation can have either an inhibitory or facilitatory effect, thereby influencing behaviour.
Past studies revealed that the application of tDCS over the parietal cortex can improve gesture processing in healthy subjects (Weiss, Achilles et al., 2013). Moreover, in a pilot study in stroke patients suffering from apraxia, the application of tDCS over the parietal cortex led to improved gesture imitation (Ant et al., 2019). These promising results in the field of neuro-rehabilitation of apraxia are currently being investigated in a larger patient sample (Kleineberg, Richter et al., 2020).
Using online TMS in healthy participants, a recent study were able to provide new insights into the role of the supramarginal gyrus in pantomime of object use. In particular, it suggests that the parietal cortex's role in object-use pantomime goes beyond the mere processing of object features and its link to manipulation, but comprises the identification, recognition, and comprehension of the pantomime (Kleineberg, Tscherpel et al., 2022).
Selected publications:
- Ant JM, Niessen E, Achilles EIS, Saliger J, Karbe H, Weiss PH, Fink GR (2019). Anodal tDCS over left parietal cortex expedites recovery from stroke-induced apraxic imitation deficits: a pilot study. Neurological Research and Practice, 1, 38. doi: 10.1186/s42466-019-0042-0
- Kleineberg NN, Richter MK, Becker I, Weiss PH, Fink GR (2020). Verum versus sham tDCS in the treatment of stroke-induced apraxia: study protocol of the randomized controlled trial RAdiCS - "Rehabilitating (stroke-induced) Apraxia with direct Current Stimulation". Neurological Research and Practice, 2, 7. doi: 10.1186/s42466-020-0052-y
- Kleineberg NN, Tscherpel C, Fink GR, Grefkes C, Weiss PH (2022). Different facets of object-use pantomime: online TMS evidence on the role of the supramarginal gyrus. Cortex, 156, 13-25. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.06.018
- Weiss PH, Achilles EIS, Moos K, Hesse MD, Sparing R, Fink GR (2013). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of left parietal cortex facilitates gesture processing in healthy subjects. Journal of Neuroscience, 33, 19205-19211. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4714-12.2013