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Closed-loop enhancement and neural decoding of cognitive control in humans
Ishita Basu1, Ali Yousefi1,2, Britni Crocker3
1Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Nature Biomedical Engineering
|November 2, 2021
Summary
Direct brain stimulation, particularly in the striatum, can improve cognitive control, which is often impaired in mental health disorders. Closed-loop stimulation, which adapts to brain activity, showed greater benefits than continuous stimulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Cognitive control deficits are prevalent in various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and addiction.
- These deficits involve difficulty suppressing automatic responses for more adaptive behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of closed-loop deep brain stimulation to enhance cognitive control.
- To explore stimulation of the internal capsule and striatum for cognitive enhancement.
Main Methods:
- Intracranial recordings and stimulation were performed in epilepsy monitoring participants.
- A conflict task was used to assess cognitive control.
- Closed-loop stimulation was triggered by detected lapses in cognitive control, contrasted with open-loop stimulation.
Main Results:
- Direct stimulation of the internal capsule or striatum (especially dorsal sites) enhanced cognitive control during a conflict task.
- Closed-loop stimulation yielded greater behavioral improvements compared to open-loop stimulation.
- Neural activity from a few electrodes could predict task performance, compatible with current brain implant technology.
Conclusions:
- Closed-loop neuromodulation offers a promising approach to enhance cognitive control.
- This technique may help address cognitive deficits associated with severe mental disorders.
- The findings support the development of adaptive brain stimulation therapies.
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