How the left and right sides of the brain help you learn movements
Lateralization of posterior-parietal cortex contributions to motor learning
This project looks at whether gentle, noninvasive brain stimulation to the left or right posterior parietal cortex helps adults learn and transfer new arm and hand movement skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192893 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would practice arm and hand movement tasks while researchers record how your performance changes over time. During some sessions, gentle high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) will be applied to either the left or right posterior parietal cortex while you train. The team will compare two types of learning—quick adjustments based on errors (adaptation) and longer-term skill acquisition—and will test whether what you learn with one arm carries over to the other arm. Visits will be in person and involve repeated behavioral tests and noninvasive brain stimulation across sessions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who can follow instructions and perform repetitive arm and hand movement tasks and who are willing to attend in-person sessions with noninvasive brain stimulation.
Not a fit: People who cannot perform the required arm movements, have implanted electronic medical devices, active epilepsy, or other contraindications to brain stimulation may not be eligible or benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to simple, noninvasive stimulation approaches to speed motor skill relearning or improve rehabilitation after stroke or injury.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show left posterior parietal damage can block adaptation and some tDCS work has improved motor learning, but using HD-tDCS to compare hemisphere-specific effects and transfer is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
University Park, United States
- Pennsylvania State University, the — University Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sainburg, Robert L — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Sainburg, Robert L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.