LAUSANNE LAUSANNE: As we age, our cognitive and motor functions decline, reducing our independence and overall quality of life. Research efforts to reduce or perhaps eliminate this have resulted in technologies that are very promising.
Now, scientists led by Friedhelm Hummel at EPFL have identified a key factor influencing a person's response to DCS. The team looked at how basic learning abilities determine the effect of brain stimulation applied during learning a motor task. Their findings suggest that individuals with less efficient learning mechanisms benefit more from stimulation, while those with optimal learning strategies may experience negative effects.
One of these is non-invasive brain stimulation: a term that includes a set of techniques that can influence brain functions externally and non-invasively, without the need for surgery or implants. One such promising technique, in particular, is anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (ATDCS), which uses a constant, low electrical current delivered through electrodes on the scalp to modulate neuronal activity.
However, studies researching DCS have yielded inconsistent results, which has led researchers to explore why some people benefit from DCS while others do not. The problem lies in our understanding of the factors that can influence reactivity to brain stimulation, creating responders and non-responders; Of these, age has been suggested as an important factor.
Some studies suggest that other factors such as baseline behavioral ability and previous training may be important considerations, but the interaction of these factors with behavior has not been determined in detail, necessitating sophisticated predictive models of the effects of ATDCS. Points towards. The researchers recruited 40 participants: 20 middle-aged adults (50-65 years old) and 20 older adults (over 65). Each group was further divided into those receiving active ATDCS and those receiving placebo stimulation.
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