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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS for Memory Enhancement
Published on: September 18, 2021
15.8K
Mindfulness-based training with transcranial direct current stimulation modulates neuronal resource allocation in
Michael A Hunter1,2,3,4,5, Gregory Lieberman1,2,3,6,7, Brian A Coffman1,2,3,8
1Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Heliyon
|August 11, 2018
Summary
Combining mindfulness training with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhanced working memory performance and altered brain activity. This electrical mindfulness-based training (eMBT) shows potential for cognitive augmentation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroplasticity
- Brain Stimulation
Background:
- Mindfulness-based training (MBT) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES), specifically transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), are known to enhance cognitive abilities.
- Investigating the combined effects of MBT and tDCS (eMBT) on cognitive functions like working memory (WM) and attention is crucial for understanding synergistic potential.
- Previous research highlights the promise of both interventions individually, but their concurrent application requires further exploration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the compatibility and combined effects of electrical mindfulness-based training (eMBT) with tDCS on behavioral and neurophysiological indices of working memory (WM) and attentional resource allocation.
- To assess the impact of a 4-week eMBT intervention on cognitive performance and electroencephalography (EEG) measures during WM load.
- To explore the neural mechanisms underlying potential cognitive enhancements through eMBT.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-four healthy participants were randomized into either an eMBT group (MBT with tDCS) or a control group (active control training with sham tDCS).
- The intervention lasted 4 weeks, including up to 20 MBT sessions, with up to 8 incorporating tDCS.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded during n-back tasks (1-, 2-, 3-back) to measure working memory load. Performance on complex span tasks and fluid intelligence measures were assessed pre- and post-training.
Main Results:
- The eMBT group showed significant improvements in 3-back task performance and spatial span tasks, unlike the control group.
- During 3-back performance, the eMBT group exhibited increased P3 amplitude and theta power at electrode Pz, alongside decreased frontal midline P3 amplitude and theta power.
- These neurophysiological changes align with the neural efficiency hypothesis, suggesting more distributed brain activity with enhanced cognitive capacity.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide preliminary evidence for the compatibility of concurrent mindfulness-based training and tDCS (eMBT) in modulating working memory capacity and attentional allocation.
- eMBT appears to enhance cognitive function through neurophysiological changes indicative of increased neural efficiency.
- Future longitudinal studies are recommended to further elucidate the specific contributions of tDCS parameters and compare eMBT directly against MBT alone.
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