Project
Non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance consolidation of motor learning in healthy aging and Parkinson's disease.
Since changes in compensatory networks at brain level induced by motor learning in Parkinson Disease (PD) were demonstrated, we will investigate the hallmarks of consolidation using functional and resting state MRI during an amplitude maintenance task in a parallel design in PD and healthy controls. We will scan participants during the performance of single and dual tasks using MRI-compatible tablets. Next, subjects will be exposed to learning with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or sham outside the scanner. We will scan the subjects a second time within the same session to understand the neural changes related to tDCS stimulation during automatization, transfer and retention tests. We hypothesize that tDCS will induce neural network changes which will correlate with better amplitude maintenance at follow-up.