Effects of Cerebellar tDCS on Inhibitory Control: Evidence from a Go/NoGo Task.

Effects of Cerebellar tDCS on Inhibitory Control: Evidence from a Go/NoGo Task. Cerebellum. 2020 Jul 14;: Authors: Mannarelli D, Pauletti C, Petritis A, Delle Chiaie R, Currà A, Trompetto C, Fattapposta F Abstract Response inhibition as an executive function refers to the ability to suppress inappropriate but prepotent responses. Several brain regions have been implicated in the process underlying inhibitory control, including the cerebellum. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of the cerebellum in executive functioning, particularly in response inhibition. For this purpose, we transitorily inhibited cerebellar activity by means of cathodal tDCS and studied the effects of this inhibition on ERP components elicited during a Go/NoGo task in healthy subjects. Sixteen healthy subjects underwent a Go/NoGo task prior to and after cathodal and sham cerebellar tDCS in separate sessions. A reduction in N2-NoGo amplitude and a prolongation in N2-NoGo latency emerged after cathodal tDCS whereas no differences were detected after sham stimulation. Moreover, commission errors in NoGo trials were significantly higher after cathodal tDCS than at the basal evaluation. No differences emerged between performances in Go trials and those after sham stimulation. These data indicate that cerebellar inhibition following cathodal stimulation alters the ability to allocate attentional resources to stimuli containing conflict information and...
Source: Cerebellum - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Cerebellum Source Type: research