Frontal-midline theta frequency and probabilistic learning: A transcranial alternating current stimulation study

Probabilistic learning is a fundamental cognitive ability that extracts and represents regularities of our environment enabling predictive processing during perception and acquisition of perceptual, motor, cognitive, and social skills. Previous studies show competition between neural networks relate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavioural brain research 2020-09, Vol.393, p.112733-112733, Article 112733
Main Authors: Zavecz, Zsófia, Horváth, Kata, Solymosi, Péter, Janacsek, Karolina, Nemeth, Dezso
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Competition
Life Sciences
Neural oscillations
Procedural learning
Statistical learning
Transcranial electric stimulation
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Summary:Probabilistic learning is a fundamental cognitive ability that extracts and represents regularities of our environment enabling predictive processing during perception and acquisition of perceptual, motor, cognitive, and social skills. Previous studies show competition between neural networks related to executive function/working memory vs. probabilistic learning. Theta synchronization has been associated with the former while desynchronization with the latter in correlational studies. In the present paper our aim was to test causal relationship between fronto-parietal midline theta synchronization and probabilistic learning with non-invasive transcranial alternating current (tACS) stimulation. We hypothesize that theta synchronization disrupts probabilistic learning performance by modulating the competitive relationship. Twenty-six young adults performed the Alternating Serial Reaction Time (ASRT) task to assess probabilistic learning in two sessions that took place one week apart. Stimulation was applied in a double-blind cross-over within-subject design with an active theta tACS and a sham stimulation in a counter-balanced order between participants. Sinusoidal current was administered with 1 mA peak-to-peak intensity throughout the task (approximately 20 min) for the active stimulation and 30 s for the sham. We did not find an effect of fronto-parietal midline theta tACS on probabilistic learning comparing performance during active and sham stimulation. To influence probabilistic learning, we suggest applying higher current intensity and stimulation parameters more precisely aligned to endogenous brain activity for future studies.
ISSN:0166-4328
1872-7549
DOI:10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112733