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Updated: Aug 20, 2025
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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS for Memory Enhancement
Published on: September 18, 2021
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Repetitive Anodal TDCS to the Frontal Cortex Increases the P300 during Working Memory Processing
Angela Voegtle1, Christoph Reichert2,3, Hermann Hinrichs2,3,4
1Neurocybernetics and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
Brain Sciences
|November 24, 2022
Summary
Repetitive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhanced brain activity during working memory tasks, but not behavioral performance. This suggests tDCS may modulate neural processes underlying working memory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates neuronal activity via scalp electrical currents.
- Previous tDCS studies on working memory (WM) yielded inconsistent results.
- Limited research exists on repeated tDCS protocols for WM enhancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate behavioral and electrophysiological changes from tDCS during WM training.
- To compare the impact of single-session versus repetitive anodal tDCS on WM.
Main Methods:
- 20 healthy participants completed a WM task with single-session and repetitive anodal tDCS targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
- Behavioral measures (reaction time, accuracy) and electrophysiological responses (P300 amplitude) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- tDCS did not significantly alter behavioral measures of WM performance.
- Repetitive anodal tDCS significantly increased P300 amplitude, correlating positively with task performance.
- P300 changes were observed over the parietal cortex, indicating frontal-parietal network engagement.
Conclusions:
- Repetitive anodal tDCS shows potential for modulating electrophysiological processes underlying WM.
- While not impacting behavior directly, repeated tDCS may alter neural mechanisms supporting WM.
