Enhanced Motor Learning in Older Adults through Noninvasive Brain Stimulation
In a groundbreaking study, scientists have successfully utilized a new noninvasive brain stimulation technique to optimize deep brain activity, resulting in enhanced motor learning, particularly in the elderly. This groundbreaking finding, documented in Nature Neuroscience, carries profound implications for comprehending brain function and has the potential to pave the way for innovative treatments for various brain disorders.
Prior to this study, scientists primarily leaned on invasive methods or less targeted noninvasive approaches to delve into deep brain structures like the striatum, which is essential for motor learning. These traditional methods either necessitated surgical procedures or were unable to precisely target deeper brain regions without impacting the surrounding areas. Recognizing these limitations, researchers set out to identify a noninvasive yet precise method to stimulate these deep-seated brain regions in order to gain a better understanding and potentially enhance motor learning processes.
Friedhelm Hummel, the study author and holder of the Defitchech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering at EPFL’s School of Life Sciences, emphasized the pressing societal and financial impact of mental disorders. He pointed out that existing treatment approaches are not effectively addressing the complexity of the brain and the symptoms of mental disorders. Hence, he advocated for innovative solutions and novel non-invasive neurotechnologies to specifically target deep brain structures, like the striatum, to pioneer novel treatment strategies for unmet symptoms in mental health disorders.
The conducted study involved healthy participants, and the findings revealed that the noninvasive brain stimulation technique led to increased activity in the putamen, which is a key region of the brain involved in motor learning. This enhanced activity was linked to an improvement in performance of a motor task. Additionally, the stimulation influenced the brain’s motor network, affecting regions such as the thalamus and supplementary motor area.
Notably, the impact of brain stimulation was more pronounced in older adults, with the technique resulting in substantial improvement in the motor task. However, it is important to note that the success of the technique depended on the presence of task-related brain activity, suggesting that the stimulation is most effective during active learning processes. Moreover, the study primarily focused on the short-term effects, and long-term impacts remain uncertain.
Overall, the study paves the way for completely novel interventional strategies for mental health disorders and holds promise to significantly advance our understanding of brain functioning and the role of deep brain structures in humans.
