- Theta-frequency cerebellar stimulation paired with intermittent theta-burst stimulation enhances cerebello-cortical plasticity and improves fine motor control and hand dexterity in healthy adults.
- Identical rhythm-tuned stimulation produced parallel behavioural and neural gains in chronic stroke survivors, indicating preserved rhythm-plasticity coupling after injury.
- Control experiments demonstrated frequency and site specificity, establishing a biologically grounded framework for scalable, targeted neurorehabilitation across movement disorders.
Sci Adv. 2026 Jul 31;12(31):eaeb3579. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aeb3579. Epub 2026 Jul 31.
ABSTRACT
Matching brain stimulation to the brain’s natural rhythms can drive plasticity, yet this principle has rarely been tested in humans. We targeted the cerebellum, a key hub for motor coordination and learning, using a rhythm-tuned protocol that pairs theta-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation with intermittent theta-burst stimulation to engage plasticity of cerebello-cortical circuits. In young healthy adults, this pairing enhanced fine motor control and hand dexterity, with gains closely tracking physiological markers of cerebellar-driven plasticity. Applying the same approach in chronic stroke survivors yielded parallel behavioral and neural gains, demonstrating preserved rhythm-plasticity coupling despite injury. Control experiments confirmed both frequency specificity and site specificity, underscoring the mechanistic precision of the intervention. By linking theta-frequency cerebellar stimulation to circuit-level and functional outcomes, these findings establish a biologically grounded framework for targeted neurorehabilitation. Rhythm-specific cerebellar stimulation provides a scalable strategy for enhancing plasticity and improving motor function across movement disorders and motor impairments.
PMID:42536760 | DOI:10.1126/sciadv.aeb3579
Share Evidence Blueprint
Save to Google Notes
Search Google Scholar
Save as PDF
⭐ My Revision List
