Effects of Electrical Brain Stimulation on Motor Learning

Abstract Motor learning is important for many aspects of daily life and includes the acquisition of new skills as well as the adaptation of a known motor pattern to novel environmental conditions. Transcranial electric stimulation (TES) can be applied in connection with motor learning to boost performance in health and disease. In this chapter, we review the ability of TES, in its different forms, to interact with learning, retention, and adaptation of motor skills. We will discuss the influence of stimulation settings, stimulation timing, and the specific cortical target on different forms of motor learning, and relate behavioral effects of stimulation to local brain activity and interregional connectivity. We conclude the chapter highlighting the applied aspect of TES research in motor skill learning on rehabilitation of patients suffering stroke and movement disorders, as well as in experts seeking to boost performance.