Impact of immersive virtual reality and transcranial direct current stimulation over the parietal cortex on motor response

Olívia Morgan Lapenta; Rafael de Albuquerque Lima; Gabriela do Amparo Nogueira; Sabrina Baron; Paulo Sérgio Boggio; Marília Lira da Silveira Coelho; Olívia Morgan Lapenta; Rafael de Albuquerque Lima; Gabriela do Amparo Nogueira; Sabrina Baron; Paulo Sérgio Boggio; Marília Lira da Silveira Coelho

doi:10.3934/Neuroscience.2026019

AIMS Neuroscience

2026, Volume 13, Issue 3: 431-451. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2026019

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Research article

Impact of immersive virtual reality and transcranial direct current stimulation over the parietal cortex on motor response

1.
Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Research Center, School of Psychology, University of Minho - Rua da Universidade, 4710–057 Braga, Portugal
2.
Department of Physical Therapy, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 01241–001, São Paulo, Brazil
3.
Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Mackenzie Presbyterian University - Rua Piauí, 181, 01241–001 São Paulo, Brazil
4.
National Institute of Science and Technology on Social and Affective Neuroscience (INCT-SANI), São Paulo, Brazil

Received: 26 January 2026 Revised: 06 June 2026 Accepted: 15 June 2026 Published: 17 August 2026

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) provides interactive and engaging environments to stimulate motor learning and neuroplasticity. Combining IVR with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may further enhance these effects by modulating activity in targeted brain areas. We investigated the effects of a 5-day IVR game-training (Beat Saber game for PS4) alone or combined with sham or anodal tDCS over the left posterior parietal cortex, a key structure for visuospatial processing and motor coordination. Seventy-four healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: IVR alone, IVR + anodal tDCS, or IVR + sham tDCS. Participants performed a battery of motor tasks requiring hand–eye coordination (Box and Blocks, Ruler Drop, Trail Making part A, and Plate Tapping tests) before and after training on days 1 and 5 to assess motor performance and transfer effects. Results showed progressive improvements in game performance from day 1 to 4 and significant motor transfer effects across all tasks, regardless of stimulation condition. tDCS did not further enhance motor outcomes, suggesting potential limitations related to stimulation site and/or parameters. Our findings highlight IVR's potential for motor skill development, contributing to the growing body of evidence supporting its use as a versatile and accessible tool for motor learning, research, and rehabilitation. While tDCS did not enhance outcomes in this context, future research should explore alternative protocols to optimize its efficacy in IVR motor training.
- brain stimulation,
- virtual reality,
- motor transfer,
- multisensory integration,
- visuomotor tasks,
- posterior parietal cortex,
- hand-eye coordination
Citation: Olívia Morgan Lapenta, Rafael de Albuquerque Lima, Gabriela do Amparo Nogueira, Sabrina Baron, Paulo Sérgio Boggio, Marília Lira da Silveira Coelho. Impact of immersive virtual reality and transcranial direct current stimulation over the parietal cortex on motor response[J]. AIMS Neuroscience, 2026, 13(3): 431-451. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2026019

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Abstract

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) provides interactive and engaging environments to stimulate motor learning and neuroplasticity. Combining IVR with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may further enhance these effects by modulating activity in targeted brain areas. We investigated the effects of a 5-day IVR game-training (Beat Saber game for PS4) alone or combined with sham or anodal tDCS over the left posterior parietal cortex, a key structure for visuospatial processing and motor coordination. Seventy-four healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: IVR alone, IVR + anodal tDCS, or IVR + sham tDCS. Participants performed a battery of motor tasks requiring hand–eye coordination (Box and Blocks, Ruler Drop, Trail Making part A, and Plate Tapping tests) before and after training on days 1 and 5 to assess motor performance and transfer effects. Results showed progressive improvements in game performance from day 1 to 4 and significant motor transfer effects across all tasks, regardless of stimulation condition. tDCS did not further enhance motor outcomes, suggesting potential limitations related to stimulation site and/or parameters. Our findings highlight IVR's potential for motor skill development, contributing to the growing body of evidence supporting its use as a versatile and accessible tool for motor learning, research, and rehabilitation. While tDCS did not enhance outcomes in this context, future research should explore alternative protocols to optimize its efficacy in IVR motor training.

Acknowledgments

Olivia M. Lapenta was supported by the Psychology Research Center, School of Psychology, University of Minho and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [FCT; UID/PSI/01662/2020] [SFRH/BPD/72710/2010]. Paulo S. Boggio is supported by a CNPq researcher fellowship [309905/2019–2], CAPES - PRINT (Programa Institucional de Internacionalização [88887.310255/2018–00] and CNPq - INCT (Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia [406463/2022–0]. Marília L. S. Coelho is supported by the Department of Physical Therapy, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Brazil.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. There were no affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with a direct financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript (e.g., employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, and expert testimony).

Authors' contributions

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