Motor imagery in REM sleep is increased by transcranial direct current stimulation of the left motor cortex (C3). (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Speth, Jana; Speth, Clemens
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychologia. Volume 86(2016)
• Page Start: 57
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Brain stimulation -- Motor system activation -- tDCS -- Consciousness -- Effects of tDCS on human consciousness -- Phenomenology -- Mentation reports -- Quantitative linguistic analysis -- Motor agency analysis; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.04.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3932

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigates if anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of areas above the motor cortex (C3) influences the quantity and quality of spontaneous motor imagery experienced in REM sleep. A randomized triple-blinded design was used, combining neurophysiological techniques with a tool of quantitative mentation report analysis developed from cognitive linguistics and generative grammar. The results indicate that more motor imagery, and more athletic motor imagery, is induced by anodal tDCS in comparison to cathodal and sham tDCS. This insight may have implications beyond basic consciousness research. Motor imagery in REM sleep has been hypothesized to serve the rehearsal of motor movements, which benefits later motor performance. Electrophysiological manipulations of motor imagery in REM sleep could in the long run be used for rehabilitative tDCS protocols benefitting temporarily immobile clinical patients, especially those who cannot perform specific motor imagery tasks - such as dementia patients, infants with developmental and motor disorders, and coma patients. Highlights: TDCS of areas above the motor cortex (C3) increased motor imagery in (EEG-monitored) REM sleep. Subjects' mentation reports were collected following tDCS and forced awakening in the sleep lab. Blind raters quantified references to motor imagery using linguistic Motor agency analysis. Anodal, but not cathodal, tDCS led to imagery of running, moving, and flying around. Results are consistent with previous findings from waking.