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. 2025 Jun 18:19:1607022.
doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2025.1607022. eCollection 2025.

Effects of a single tDCS with mirror therapy stimulation on hand function in healthy individuals

Małgorzata Wójcik  1 , Přemysl Vlček  2   3 , Idzi Siatkowski  4 , Marcela Grünerová-Lippertová  2   5
Affiliations

Effects of a single tDCS with mirror therapy stimulation on hand function in healthy individuals

Małgorzata Wójcik et al. Front Hum Neurosci. .

Abstract

Introduction: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique that has garnered significant interest for its ability to modulate cortical excitability and brain function. The technique involves the application of a weak electrical current through electrodes placed on the scalp, which influences neuronal membrane potential and alters synaptic plasticity.

Methods: The following research hypotheses were defined: (1) a single tDCS stimulation of the motor cortex on the left side in combination with mirror therapy (MT) improves the function of the right hand which is dominant; and (2) a single stimulation in combination with MT for the dominant hand (right hand) also improves the function of the non-dominant hand (left hand). A total of 106 subjects aged 51.5 ± 12.02 participated in the study, including 63 women and 43 men. We used tests for assessment before and after tDCS stimulation: Tapping Tablet, Reaction Test on a tablet, Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT), exercises for dominant hands, tDCS stimulation with MT.

Results: The obtained results of this conducted study, although preliminary, seem to indicate that in each of the analyzed age groups in men and women, a single tDCS stimulation in combination with MT directly improved the function of the dominant hand and indirectly improved the function of the non-dominant hand.

Discussion: The use of tDCS stimulation appears promising to improve hand function.

Keywords: hand; healthy people; mirror therapy; tDCS stimulation; test.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Tapping test of a woman before and after performing tDCS stimulation with mirror therapy for the right and left hand [RB, Right Before stimulation tDCS (right hand); RA, Right After stimulation tDCS (left hand); LB, Left Before stimulation tDCS (left hand); LA, Left After stimulation (left hand)]. Only statistically significant differences for independent groups are indicated, where ***p-value < 0.001; ****p-value < 0.0001.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Tapping test men before and after performing tDCS stimulation with mirror therapy for the right and left hand [RB, Right Before stimulation tDCS (right hand); RA, Right After stimulation tDCS (left hand); LB, Left Before stimulation tDCS (left hand); LA, Left After stimulation (left hand)]. Only statistically significant differences for independent groups are indicated, where ****p-value < 0.0001.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Nine Hole Peg Test of a woman before and after tDCS stimulation with mirror therapy for the right and left hand [RB, Right Before stimulation tDCS (right hand); RA, Right After stimulation tDCS (left hand); LB, Left Before stimulation tDCS (left hand); LA, Left After stimulation (left hand)]. Only statistically significant differences for independent groups are indicated, where **p-value < 0.01; ****p-value < 0.0001.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Nine Hole Peg Test men before and after tDCS stimulation with mirror therapy for the right and left hands [RB, Right Before stimulation tDCS (right hand); RA, Right After stimulation tDCS (left hand); LB, Left Before stimulation tDCS (left hand); LA, Left after stimulation (left hand)]. Only statistically significant differences for independent groups are indicated, where **p-value < 0.01.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Reaction test of a woman before and after tDCS stimulation with mirror therapy for the right and left hand [RB, Right Before stimulation tDCS (right hand); RA, Right After stimulation tDCS (left hand); LB, Left Before stimulation tDCS (left hand); LA, Left After stimulation (left hand)].
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Reaction test men before and after performing tDCS stimulation with mirror therapy for the right and left hand [RB, Right Before stimulation tDCS (right hand); RA, Right After stimulation tDCS (left hand); LB, Left Before stimulation tDCS (left hand); LA, Left After stimulation (left hand)].
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