Effects of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on motor skill learning in swallowing.

Cerebellar tDCS was found to inhibit temporal aspects of motor skill learning in swallowing. For the tDCS parameters used in this study, there is no support for use of tDCS to facilitate swallowing rehabilitation. Trial Registry Number (https://www.anzctr.org.au/): ACTRN12615000451505.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONCerebellar tDCS, in combination with motor skill training, has been demonstrated to increase motor skill learning in healthy individuals and neurologically impaired patients.In this study, cerebellar tDCS applied prior to swallowing skill training adversely affected timing measures of submental muscle activation during swallowing.In contrast to published outcomes in the corticospinal literature, both anodal and cathodal tDCS resulted in a relative inhibitory effect on motor skill learning in swallowing when compared to the sham condition.Swallowing skill training without tDCS produced increased accuracy in outcomes.