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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

Published on: July 13, 2019

Transcranial direct current stimulation selectively improves temporal working memory.

Bingxin Lin¹, Yuxin Cai¹, Yeonju Jeong¹

¹Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology

|October 22, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the prefrontal cortex (PFC) selectively improved temporal working memory (WM) capacity at the 3-second threshold. This non-invasive brain stimulation enhanced performance specifically for supra-threshold durations, highlighting the PFC's role.

Keywords:

Duration Posterior parietal cortex Prefrontal cortex Temporal working memory tDCS

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Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

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Published on: September 26, 2025

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology
Neurostimulation

Background:

Temporal working memory (WM) capacity is limited, typically around 2-3 seconds.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique with potential for cognitive enhancement.
Understanding the neural correlates of temporal WM capacity is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if anodal tDCS over the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) or posterior parietal cortex (PPC) can enhance temporal WM capacity beyond the 2-3 second threshold.
To determine the specific role of PFC versus PPC in supporting supra-threshold temporal WM.
To provide causal evidence for the involvement of these regions in temporal WM capacity.

Main Methods:

A matching-to-sample paradigm was used to assess temporal WM capacity across durations of 1, 2, 3, and 4 seconds.
Fifty-six healthy participants received either anodal tDCS or sham stimulation over the right PFC or PPC.
Performance was measured before and immediately after the tDCS intervention.

Main Results:

Anodal tDCS over the PFC significantly improved temporal WM accuracy specifically at the 3-second duration.
No significant effects were observed at other durations (1, 2, or 4 seconds) or with stimulation over the PPC.
The enhancement was specific to the supra-threshold duration, indicating a targeted effect.

Conclusions:

The findings provide causal evidence that the PFC plays a critical role in supporting temporal WM capacity, particularly at durations near the critical threshold.
PPC stimulation did not yield significant improvements in temporal WM capacity.
A single session of anodal tDCS over the PFC can selectively enhance temporal WM at the 3-second mark, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for WM deficits.