Increasing human motor skill acquisition by driving theta-gamma coupling.

Akkad H., Dupont-Hadwen J., Kane E., Evans C., Barrett L., Frese A., Tetkovic I., Bestmann S., Stagg CJ.

Skill learning is a fundamental adaptive process, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Some learning paradigms, particularly in the memory domain, are closely associated with gamma activity that is amplitude-modulated by the phase of underlying theta activity, but whether such nested activity patterns also underpin skill learning is unknown. Here we addressed this question by using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over sensorimotor cortex to modulate theta-gamma activity during motor skill acquisition, as an exemplar of a non-hippocampal-dependent task. We demonstrated, and then replicated, a significant improvement in skill acquisition with theta-gamma tACS, which outlasted the stimulation by an hour. Our results suggest that theta-gamma activity may be a common mechanism for learning across the brain and provides a putative novel intervention for optimising functional improvements in response to training or therapy.

DOI

10.7554/eLife.67355

Type

Journal article

Journal

Elife

Publication Date

23/11/2021

Volume

10

Keywords

human, neuroscience

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