Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36823635›Full record

Trial reportJournal of translational medicine2023

Transcranial direct current stimulation to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex enhances early dexterity skills with the left non-dominant hand: a randomized controlled trial.

Akihiro Watanabe, Daisuke Sawamura, Hisato Nakazono, Yukina Tokikuni, Hiroshi Miura, Kazuhiro Sugawara, Kanako Fuyama, Harukazu Tohyama, Susumu Yoshida, Shinya Sakai

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of translational medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Trial
  5. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Akihiro WatanabeGraduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan.
Daisuke SawamuraDepartment of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan. D.sawamura@pop.med.hokudai.ac.jp.ORCID 0000-0003-3180-3474
Hisato NakazonoDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medical Science, Fukuoka International University of Health and Welfare, Fukuoka, 814-0001, Japan.
Yukina TokikuniGraduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan.
Hiroshi MiuraGraduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan.
Kazuhiro SugawaraDepartment of Physical Therapy, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan.
Kanako FuyamaData Science Center, Promotion Unit, Institute of Health Science Innovation for Medical Care, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan.
Harukazu TohyamaDepartment of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan.
Susumu YoshidaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Tobetsu, 061-0293, Japan.
Shinya SakaiDepartment of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is involved in early-phase manual dexterity skill acquisition when cognitive control processes, such as integration and complexity demands, are required. However, the effectiveness of left DLPFC transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on early-phase motor learning and whether its effectiveness depends on the cognitive demand of the target task are unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether tDCS over the left DLPFC improves non-dominant hand dexterity performance and determine if its efficacy depends on the cognitive demand of the target task.

methodsIn this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, 70 healthy, right-handed, young adult participants were recruited. They were randomly allocated to the active tDCS (2 mA for 20 min) or sham groups and repeatedly performed the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) left-handed peg task and left-handed assembly task three times: pre-tDCS, during tDCS, and post tDCS.

resultsThe final sample comprised 66 healthy young adults (mean age, 22.73 ± 1.57 years). There were significant interactions between group and time in both PPT tasks, indicating significantly higher performance of those in the active tDCS group than those in the sham group post tDCS (p < 0.001). Moreover, a greater benefit was observed in the left-handed assembly task performance than in the peg task performance (p < 0.001). No significant correlation between baseline performance and benefits from tDCS was observed in either task.

conclusionsThese results demonstrated that prefrontal tDCS significantly improved early-phase manual dexterity skill acquisition, and its benefits were greater for the task with high cognitive demands. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of the left DLPFC in the modulation of early-phase dexterity skill acquisition.

trial registrationThis study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry in Japan (UMIN000046868), Registered February 8, 2022 https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000053467.

Indexed as

Transcranial Direct Current StimulationAdultDorsolateral Prefrontal CortexDouble-Blind MethodHealthy VolunteersHumansJapanYoung AdultCognitive aspectsDorsolateral prefrontal cortexFine motorMotor learningNon-dominant handTranscranial direct current stimulation

Identifiers

PMID36823635
PMCPMC9951449

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.