Neurodynamic correlates for the cross-frequency coupled transcranial alternating current stimulation during working memory performance

Transcranial current stimulation is a neuromodulation technique used to modulate brain oscillations and, in turn, to enhance human cognitive function in a non-invasive manner. This study investigated whether cross-frequency coupled transcranial alternating current stimulation (CFC-tACS) improved wor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in neuroscience 2022-10, Vol.16, p.1013691-1013691
Main Authors: Kim, Seong-Eun, Kim, Hyun-Seok, Kwak, Youngchul, Ahn, Min-Hee, Choi, Kyung Mook, Min, Byoung-Kyong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cognitive ability
cross-frequency coupling (CFC)
EEG
Electrodes
Human performance
Memory
Mental task performance
Neural networks
Neuromodulation
Neuroscience
nodal efficiency
Oscillations
Retention
Short term memory
Theta rhythms
transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)
working memory
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Summary:Transcranial current stimulation is a neuromodulation technique used to modulate brain oscillations and, in turn, to enhance human cognitive function in a non-invasive manner. This study investigated whether cross-frequency coupled transcranial alternating current stimulation (CFC-tACS) improved working memory performance. Participants in both the tACS-treated and sham groups were instructed to perform a modified Sternberg task, where a combination of letters and digits was presented. Theta-phase/high-gamma-amplitude CFC-tACS was administered over electrode F3 and its four surrounding return electrodes (Fp1, Fz, F7, and C3) for 20 min. To identify neurophysiological correlates for the tACS-mediated enhancement of working memory performance, we analyzed EEG alpha and theta power, cross-frequency coupling, functional connectivity, and nodal efficiency during the retention period of the working memory task. We observed significantly reduced reaction times in the tACS-treated group, with suppressed treatment-mediated differences in frontal alpha power and unidirectional Fz-delta-phase to Oz-high-gamma-amplitude modulation during the second half of the retention period when network analyses revealed tACS-mediated fronto-occipital dissociative neurodynamics between alpha suppression and delta/theta enhancement. These findings indicate that tACS modulated top-down control and functional connectivity across the fronto-occipital regions, resulting in improved working memory performance. Our observations are indicative of the feasibility of enhancing cognitive performance by the CFC-formed tACS.
ISSN:1662-453X
1662-4548
1662-453X
DOI:10.3389/fnins.2022.1013691