Improving online and offline gain from repetitive practice using anodal tDCS at dorsal premotor cortex

Administering anodal transcranial direct current stimulation at the left dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) but not right PMd throughout the repetitive practice of three novel motor sequences resulted in improved offline performance usually only observed after interleaved practice. This gain only emerged following overnight sleep. These data are consistent with the proposed proprietary role of left PMd for motor sequence learning and the more recent claim that PMd is central to sleep-related consolidation of novel skill memory.

Automated summary

Administering anodal transcranial direct current stimulation at the left dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) during repetitive practice of novel motor sequences resulted in improved offline performance, which only emerged following overnight sleep. These findings support the role of the left PMd in motor sequence learning and its involvement in sleep-related consolidation of skill memory.