Exploring the positive involvement of primary motor cortex in observing motor sequences with music: a pilot study with tDCS

摘要

Introduction The present study aims at exploring the effects of the depolarization of the primary motor cortex (M1), which is supposed to be associated to the mirror neuron system (MNS), via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and of synchronous music on individuals' responses to observed actionson actions in a sample of individuals with low sports expertise. The two main theories behind this study are linked to the role of the MNS in the human brain and the embodied cognition theory, which suggests an interdependent relationship between action, perception and cognition. Method Nineteen college students attending to BA in motor science watched five videos (one presenting a target motor action performed by a basketball player and the other four presenting human vs. non-human performed actions as a control), with or without background music and with or without anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex.