1. Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Focal Hand Dystonia in Musicians: A Two-Case Study
- Author
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Sara Marceglia 1, 2, Simona Mrakic-Sposta 1, 3, Manuela Fumagalli 1, Roberta Ferrucci 1, 4, Francesca Mameli 1, Maurizio Vergari 1, Sergio Barbieri 1, Alberto Priori 1, 5, Marceglia, Sara, Mrakic-Sposta, Simona, Fumagalli, Manuela, Ferrucci, Roberta, Mameli, Francesca, Vergari, Maurizio, Barbieri, Sergio, and Priori, Alberto
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation ,Focal hand dystonia ,Musician ,Neuromodulation ,tDCS ,Neuroscience (all) ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.medical_treatment ,lcsh:RC321-571 ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Physical medicine and rehabilitation ,Sensation ,medicine ,In patient ,lcsh:Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry ,Original Research ,Motor area ,Transcranial direct-current stimulation ,General Neuroscience ,Neuromodulation (medicine) ,Abnormal movements ,030104 developmental biology ,Psychology ,Focal Hand Dystonia ,Neuroscience ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Focal hand dystonia (FHD) in musicians is a movement disorder causing abnormal movements and irregularities in playing. Since weak electrical currents applied to the brain induce persistent excitability changes in humans, cathodal tDCS was proposed as a possible non-invasive approach for modulating cortical excitability in patients with FHD. However, the optimal targets and modalities have still to be determined. In this pilot study, we delivered cathodal (2 mA), anodal (2 mA) and sham tDCS over the motor areas bilaterally for 20 min daily for five consecutive days in two musicians with FHD. After cathodal tDCS, both patients reported a sensation of general wellness and improved symptoms of FHD. In conclusion, our pilot results suggest that cathodal tDCS delivered bilaterally over motor-premotor (M-PM) cortex for 5 consecutive days may be effective in improving symptoms in FHD.
- Published
- 2017