Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
09:57
How to Measure Cortical Folding from MR Images: a Step-by-Step Tutorial to Compute Local Gyrification Index
Published on: January 2, 2012
28.6K
Intensity-dependent tACS entrainment effects in a cortical microcircuit: a computational study.
Kyeongseop Park1, Hyeyeon Chung1, Hyeon Seo2
1School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology, 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.
Scientific Reports
|January 31, 2026
Summary
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) impacts neural activity by altering spike timing, not firing rates. Neuronal morphology significantly influences tACS effectiveness, highlighting its importance for optimizing neuromodulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) shows potential for treating psychiatric disorders and improving cognition.
- However, tACS efficacy is debated due to the influence of microscopic factors like neuronal morphology on responses to electric fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cellular and network mechanisms of tACS-induced neural entrainment.
- To explore how neuronal morphology affects tACS responses.
Main Methods:
- Developed a computational cortical microcircuit model using the NEURON simulation environment.
- Integrated realistic neuronal morphologies, synaptic connectivity, and intrinsic dynamics.
- Assessed neural responses to varying tACS intensities using cross-correlation, phase coherence, and phase-locking value.
Main Results:
- tACS modulates neural spike timing without significantly altering firing rates.
- Pyramidal neurons showed higher sensitivity to external electric fields than interneurons.
- tACS effects on synchronization depend on endogenous oscillations and stimulation intensity.
Conclusions:
- tACS effects result from an interplay between intrinsic neuronal properties and network dynamics.
- Neuronal morphology is crucial for determining tACS responses.
- Findings can inform optimization of tACS parameters for neuromodulation.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Effects of Air-entrainment in Concrete
389
Air entrainment in concrete significantly enhances the material's durability, especially in environments subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. Introducing small air bubbles into the concrete mix acts as internal voids that accommodate the expansion of water when it freezes, thereby alleviating internal stress and preventing structural cracks. This function is crucial in climates with significant freezing and thawing, as it protects the concrete from repeated stresses that could lead to premature...
389
01:27Air-entraining Agents
274
Air-entraining agents improve the durability and workability of concrete in climates with frequent freezing and thawing. These agents prevent cracks by introducing small air bubbles into the mix, creating spaces accommodating water expansion when temperatures drop. The air-entraining agents lower the surface tension of water, forming stable, small air bubbles. This method is more effective than having accidental large voids, as the intentional, smaller, and evenly distributed air voids improve...
274
01:27Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
368
DefinitionComputed Tomography (CT) of the genitourinary (GU) tract is a non-invasive imaging modality that utilizes X-rays and computer processing to generate detailed cross-sectional images of the urinary system, encompassing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and adjacent structures such as the adrenal glands.PurposeCT scans of the GU tract serve several diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including:Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Diseases: Detects kidney stones, tumors, cysts, and congenital...
368
00:58Sound Intensity
4.8K
The loudness of a sound source is related to how energetically the source is vibrating, consequently making the molecules of the propagation medium vibrate. To measure the loudness of a source, the physical quantity of interest is the intensity. This is defined as the energy emitted per unit of time per unit of area perpendicular to the sound wave's propagation direction. Since the total energy is greater if the source vibrates for a longer duration and over a larger area, dividing the...
4.8K
00:53Sound Intensity Level
4.9K
Humans perceive sound by hearing. The human ear helps sound waves reach the brain, which then interprets the waves and creates the perception of hearing. The loudness of the environment in which a person is located determines whether they can distinguish between different sound sources.
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and...
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and...
4.9K
01:21Frequency-dependent Selection
24.0K
When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.
24.0K