Contribution of the premotor cortex to consolidation of motor sequence learning in humans during sleep

Abstract

Modulation of cortical excitability via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) during learning affects performance when applied to the primary motor cortex. We aimed to explore if premotor tDCS during REM sleep influences performance during motor memory consolidation.

We conclude that the premotor cortex is involved in motor memory consolidation during REM sleep.

Keywords

• direct-current stimulation
• transcranial magnetic stimulation
• REM-sleep
• eye-movements
• excitability
• memory
• plasticity
• pet
• facilitation
• improvement