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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS for Memory Enhancement
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Modulation of Working Memory Using Transcranial Electrical Stimulation: A Direct Comparison Between TACS and TDCS
Franziska Röhner1, Carolin Breitling2, Katharina S Rufener3,4
1Neurocybernetics and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|November 9, 2018
Summary
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (TACS) showed greater improvements in working memory (WM) reaction times than transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS). Further research into TACS may enhance WM performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) is a promising technique for enhancing working memory (WM).
- Previous studies suggest both transcranial alternating current stimulation (TACS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) can modulate WM networks.
- Direct comparisons between TACS and TDCS for WM enhancement are limited due to varied study designs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly compare the efficacy of theta TACS and anodal TDCS in improving WM performance.
- To investigate the effects of TACS applied to the frontal-parietal loop and TDCS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on WM.
- To analyze reaction times for hits (RT-hit) and accuracy during a visual 2-back WM task.
Main Methods:
- A within-subject, crossover design with 30 participants across three sessions.
- Administration of TACS, TDCS, and sham stimulation in a counterbalanced order.
- WM task performance assessed before, during, and after each stimulation type.
- A subgroup analysis (N=10) allowed for direct comparison of TACS and TDCS effects by controlling for practice effects.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in RT-hit or accuracy were observed between stimulation types in the initial analysis.
- A notable practice effect improved RT-hit across sessions, irrespective of stimulation type.
- In the subgroup analysis, TACS demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in RT-hit compared to TDCS (p=0.03).
Conclusions:
- While initial comparisons showed no difference, a refined analysis revealed TACS's superior effect on WM reaction times.
- Practice effects significantly influenced WM performance, necessitating careful study design for direct comparisons.
- Optimizing TACS application holds potential for future WM enhancement strategies.
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