Determining Reliable Neural Targets for enhancing Motor Sequence Learning: A preparatory study for focal tDCS

Background: Motor sequence learning (MSL) underlies the acquisition of everyday skilled movements, and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown promise for enhancing it, although reported effects vary considerably. Before such interventions can be applied and interpreted reliably, the behavioural and neural signatures of the underlying task should be shown to be robust. This study therefore characterised an fMRI-based Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT) protocol and evaluated the consistency of its behavioural and fMRI-based neural signatures in repeated measurements to identify potential network targets for tDCS. Methods: Twenty healthy young- to middle-aged adults (10 females;