A recent report published online in the journal Neuron reveals that brain stimulation could accelerate learning that may eventually lead to treatments for conditions such as strokes and chronic pain.

A team of researchers from The University of Texas used brain stimulation to release neurotransmitters that cause the brain to increase its response to a small set of tones. This increase allowed rats to learn a task using these tones more quickly than those who received no stimulation.

Officials said that this finding shows the first direct evidence that a larger brain response can aid in learning. They added that future treatments that enhance large changes in the brain may assist with recovery from stroke or learning disabilities such as autism.

“We think that this process of expanding the brain responses during learning, and then contracting them back down after learning is complete, may help animals and people to be able to perform many different tasks with a high level of skill,” said Amanda Reed, lead author of the study.

According to the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 18 percent of boys and 10 percent of girls between ages 5 and 17 are eventually diagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability during adolescence.

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