Anodal Contralesional tDCS Enhances CST Excitability Bilaterally in an Adolescent with Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy: A Brief Report.
Rodrigo G Delatorre, Ellen N Sutter, Samuel T Nemanich and 4 others
PMID 36967533WHAT IT FOUND
In one adolescent with cerebral palsy, anodal tDCS to the contralesional hemisphere increased corticospinal tract excitability bilaterally for 30 minutes.
This neurophysiologic change was not seen with sham stimulation. Clinical motor outcomes were not measured.
Key findings
01Anodal tDCS increased bilateral corticospinal tract excitability, with motor evoked potential amplitudes rising by 327% in the left hand and 372% in the right hand 30 minutes post-stimulation.
02Sham stimulation did not produce a comparable increase in excitability, suggesting the effect was due to the active tDCS rather than the concurrent motor practice.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This is a single case report, so the findings cannot be generalized to other patients. The study measured neurophysiologic excitability (TMS) but did not assess whether this translated to improved motor function or daily activities. The participant was taking a prescribed stimulant (Vyvanse), which may have influenced the neurophysiologic results. Effects were only observed for up to 60 minutes; long-term benefits are unknown. The sham comparison was not randomized within this specific report, though the participant was part of a larger trial.
Declared interests
Author Dr. Tim Feyma receives compensation as a member of the speaker bureau for PTC Therapeutics. Other authors report no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the 30-minute increase in brain excitability as evidence that tDCS improves hand function or motor skills in children with cerebral palsy. The study measured only a neurophysiologic signal in one patient and did not test functional outcomes.