The Possibility of Increasing the Effectiveness of Correcting Motor Skills and Cognitive Functions Using Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Humans

Many studies demonstrating the effects of noninvasive stimulation on various brain functions have been reported. The main methods used for such stimulation are transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) and transcranial magnetic (TMS) stimulation. A number of stimulation protocols are already being implemented in the clinic, though the reliability of the effects of these approaches raises a number of questions. This review examines the effects of TES and TMS on the development and correction of motor skills and cognitive functions and how they are interconnected. Particular emphasis is placed on the effects associated with correction of motor skills, as the movement-associated corticospinal system (the main target of stimulation) can be assessed objectively using a variety of neuroimaging and neurostimulation methods, providing more accurate assessment of the mechanisms of action of noninvasive brain stimulation (NBS). In addition, studies using NBS show a relationship between cognitive and motor functions, which indicates the need for comprehensive studies in these areas in the context of seeking to improve the effectiveness of motor skills. Both the individual effects of TES and TMS and the effects of their combined use are considered here. The authors believe that there is no unequivocal answer to the question of whether noninvasive stimulation provides a route to the reliable correction of the development of motor and cognitive skills. The data presented in this review suggest that such correction is possible. This aspect is important both for clinical medicine (patients with motor disorders) and for other areas – sports medicine, educational technologies, etc.