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De Paolis ML, Paoletti I, Zaccone C, Capone F, D'Amelio M, Krashia P. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at gamma frequency: an up-and-coming tool to modify the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:33. [PMID: 38926897 PMCID: PMC11210106 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00423-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The last decades have witnessed huge efforts devoted to deciphering the pathological mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and to testing new drugs, with the recent FDA approval of two anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies for AD treatment. Beyond these drug-based experimentations, a number of pre-clinical and clinical trials are exploring the benefits of alternative treatments, such as non-invasive stimulation techniques on AD neuropathology and symptoms. Among the different non-invasive brain stimulation approaches, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is gaining particular attention due to its ability to externally control gamma oscillations. Here, we outline the current knowledge concerning the clinical efficacy, safety, ease-of-use and cost-effectiveness of tACS on early and advanced AD, applied specifically at 40 Hz frequency, and also summarise pre-clinical results on validated models of AD and ongoing patient-centred trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa De Paolis
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Paoletti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Zaccone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Fioravante Capone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200 - 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D'Amelio
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso Di Fiorano, 64 - 00143, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paraskevi Krashia
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso Di Fiorano, 64 - 00143, Rome, Italy
- Department of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21 - 00128, Rome, Italy
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Kim Y, Lee JH, Park JC, Kwon J, Kim H, Seo J, Min BK. Neuromodulation of inhibitory control using phase-lagged transcranial alternating current stimulation. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2024; 21:93. [PMID: 38816860 PMCID: PMC11138099 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-024-01385-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a prominent non-invasive brain stimulation method for modulating neural oscillations and enhancing human cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of individualized theta tACS delivered in-phase and out-of-phase between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) during inhibitory control performance. METHODS The participants engaged in a Stroop task with phase-lagged theta tACS over individually optimized high-density electrode montages targeting the dACC and lDLPFC. We analyzed task performance, event-related potentials, and prestimulus electroencephalographic theta and alpha power. RESULTS We observed significantly reduced reaction times following out-of-phase tACS, accompanied by reduced frontocentral N1 and N2 amplitudes, enhanced parieto-occipital P1 amplitudes, and pronounced frontocentral late sustained potentials. Out-of-phase stimulation also resulted in significantly higher prestimulus frontocentral theta and alpha activity. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that out-of-phase theta tACS potently modulates top-down inhibitory control, supporting the feasibility of phase-lagged tACS to enhance inhibitory control performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukyung Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Je-Hyeop Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
- BK21 Four Institute of Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Je-Choon Park
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Jeongwook Kwon
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Hyoungkyu Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
- Institute of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Jeehye Seo
- BK21 Four Institute of Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
- Institute of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Byoung-Kyong Min
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea.
- BK21 Four Institute of Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea.
- Institute of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea.
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Boetzel C, Stecher HI, Herrmann CS. Aligning Event-Related Potentials with Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation for Modulation-a Review. Brain Topogr 2024:10.1007/s10548-024-01055-1. [PMID: 38689065 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-024-01055-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
This review aims to demonstrate the connections between event-related potentials (ERPs), event-related oscillations (EROs), and non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), with a specific focus on transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). We begin with a short examination and discussion of the relation between ERPs and EROs. Then, we investigate the diverse fields of NIBS, highlighting tACS as a potent tool for modulating neural oscillations and influencing cognitive performance. Emphasizing the impact of tACS on individual ERP components, this article offers insights into the potential of conventional tACS for targeted stimulation of single ERP components. Furthermore, we review recent articles that explore a novel approach of tACS: ERP-aligned tACS. This innovative technique exploits the temporal precision of ERP components, aligning tACS with specific neural events to optimize stimulation effects and target the desired neural response. In conclusion, this review combines current knowledge to explore how ERPs, EROs, and NIBS interact, particularly highlighting the modulatory possibilities offered by tACS. The incorporation of ERP-aligned tACS introduces new opportunities for future research, advancing our understanding of the complex connection between neural oscillations and cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Boetzel
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence "Hearing for All", Carl Von Ossietzky University, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114 - 118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Heiko I Stecher
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence "Hearing for All", Carl Von Ossietzky University, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114 - 118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christoph S Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence "Hearing for All", Carl Von Ossietzky University, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114 - 118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany.
- Neuroimaging Unit, European Medical School, Carl Von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany.
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl Von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany.
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Mendes AJ, Lema A, Carvalho S, Leite J. Tailoring transcranial alternating current stimulation based on endogenous event-related P3 to modulate premature responses: a feasibility study. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17144. [PMID: 38584936 PMCID: PMC10998630 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a brain stimulation method for modulating ongoing endogenous oscillatory activity at specified frequency during sensory and cognitive processes. Given the overlap between event-related potentials (ERPs) and event-related oscillations (EROs), ERPs can be studied as putative biomarkers of the effects of tACS in the brain during cognitive/sensory task performance. Objective This preliminary study aimed to test the feasibility of individually tailored tACS based on individual P3 (latency and frequency) elicited during a cued premature response task. Thus, tACS frequency was individually tailored to match target-P3 ERO for each participant. Likewise, the target onset in the task was adjusted to match the tACS phase and target-P3 latency. Methods Twelve healthy volunteers underwent tACS in two separate sessions while performing a premature response task. Target-P3 latency and ERO were calculated in a baseline block during the first session to allow a posterior synchronization between the tACS and the endogenous oscillatory activity. The cue and target-P3 amplitudes, delta/theta ERO, and power spectral density (PSD) were evaluated pre and post-tACS blocks. Results Target-P3 amplitude significantly increased after activetACS, when compared to sham. Evoked-delta during cue-P3 was decreased after tACS. No effects were found for delta ERO during target-P3 nor for the PSD and behavioral outcomes. Conclusion The present findings highlight the possible effect of phase synchronization between individualized tACS parameters and endogenous oscillatory activity, which may result in an enhancement of the underlying process (i.e., an increase of target-P3). However, an unsuccessful synchronization between tACS and EEG activity might also result in a decrease in the evoked-delta activity during cue-P3. Further studies are needed to optimize the parameters of endogenous activity and tACS synchronization. The implications of the current results for future studies, including clinical studies, are further discussed since transcranial alternating current stimulation can be individually tailored based on endogenous event-related P3 to modulate responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augusto J. Mendes
- Geneva Memory Center, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging of Aging (LANVIE), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Alberto Lema
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Translational Neuropsychology Lab, Department of Education and Psychology, William James Center for Research (WJCR), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jorge Leite
- CINTESIS@RISE, CINTESIS.UPT, Universidade Portucalense Infante D. Henrique, Porto, Portugal
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Di Dona G, Zamfira DA, Battista M, Battaglini L, Perani D, Ronconi L. The role of parietal beta-band activity in the resolution of visual crowding. Neuroimage 2024; 289:120550. [PMID: 38382861 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Visual crowding is the difficulty in identifying an object when surrounded by neighbouring flankers, representing a bottleneck for object perception. Crowding arises not only from the activity of visual areas but also from parietal areas and fronto-parietal network activity. Parietal areas would provide the dorsal-to-ventral guidance for object identification and the fronto-parietal network would modulate the attentional resolution. Several studies highlighted the relevance of beta oscillations (15-25 Hz) in these areas for visual crowding and other connatural visual phenomena. In the present study, we investigated the differential contribution of beta oscillations in the parietal cortex and fronto-parietal network in the resolution of visual crowding. During a crowding task with letter stimuli, high-definition transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) in the beta band (18 Hz) was delivered bilaterally on parietal sites, on the right fronto-parietal network, and in a sham regime. Resting-state EEG was recorded before and after stimulation to measure tACS-induced aftereffects. The influence of crowding was reduced only when tACS was delivered bilaterally on parietal sites. In this condition, beta power was reduced after the stimulation. Furthermore, the magnitude of tACS-induced aftereffects varied as a function of individual differences in beta oscillations. Results corroborate the link between parietal beta oscillations and visual crowding, providing fundamental insights on brain rhythms underlying the dorsal-to-ventral guidance in visual perception and suggesting that beta tACS can induce plastic changes in these areas. Remarkably, these findings open new possibilities for neuromodulatory interventions for disorders characterised by abnormal crowding, such as dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Di Dona
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano MI, Italy; School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano MI, Italy.
| | - Denisa Adina Zamfira
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano MI, Italy; School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano MI, Italy
| | - Martina Battista
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano MI, Italy; MoMiLab Research Unit, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Piazza S. Francesco 19, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy
| | - Luca Battaglini
- Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova PD, Italy
| | - Daniela Perani
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano MI, Italy; School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano MI, Italy
| | - Luca Ronconi
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano MI, Italy; School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano MI, Italy.
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Wischnewski M, Tran H, Zhao Z, Shirinpour S, Haigh ZJ, Rotteveel J, Perera ND, Alekseichuk I, Zimmermann J, Opitz A. Induced neural phase precession through exogenous electric fields. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1687. [PMID: 38402188 PMCID: PMC10894208 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45898-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The gradual shifting of preferred neural spiking relative to local field potentials (LFPs), known as phase precession, plays a prominent role in neural coding. Correlations between the phase precession and behavior have been observed throughout various brain regions. As such, phase precession is suggested to be a global neural mechanism that promotes local neuroplasticity. However, causal evidence and neuroplastic mechanisms of phase precession are lacking so far. Here we show a causal link between LFP dynamics and phase precession. In three experiments, we modulated LFPs in humans, a non-human primate, and computational models using alternating current stimulation. We show that continuous stimulation of motor cortex oscillations in humans lead to a gradual phase shift of maximal corticospinal excitability by ~90°. Further, exogenous alternating current stimulation induced phase precession in a subset of entrained neurons (~30%) in the non-human primate. Multiscale modeling of realistic neural circuits suggests that alternating current stimulation-induced phase precession is driven by NMDA-mediated synaptic plasticity. Altogether, the three experiments provide mechanistic and causal evidence for phase precession as a global neocortical process. Alternating current-induced phase precession and consequently synaptic plasticity is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic neuromodulation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Harry Tran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zhihe Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sina Shirinpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zachary J Haigh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jonna Rotteveel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nipun D Perera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ivan Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jan Zimmermann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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Yang D, Ghafoor U, Eggebrecht AT, Hong KS. Effectiveness assessment of repetitive transcranial alternating current stimulation with concurrent EEG and fNIRS measurement. Health Inf Sci Syst 2023; 11:35. [PMID: 37545487 PMCID: PMC10397167 DOI: 10.1007/s13755-023-00233-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) exhibits the capability to interact with endogenous brain oscillations using an external low-intensity sinusoidal current and influences cerebral function. Despite its potential benefits, the physiological mechanisms and effectiveness of tACS are currently a subject of debate and disagreement. The aims of our study are to (i) evaluate the neurological and behavioral impact of tACS by conducting repetitive sham-controlled experiments and (ii) propose criteria to evaluate effectiveness, which can serve as a benchmark to determine optimal individual-based tACS protocols. In this study, 15 healthy adults participated in the experiment over two visiting: sham and tACS (i.e., 5 Hz, 1 mA). During each visit, we used multimodal recordings of the participants' brain, including simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), along with a working memory (WM) score to quantify neurological effects and cognitive changes immediately after each repetitive sham/tACS session. Our results indicate increased WM scores, hemodynamic response strength, and EEG power in theta and delta bands both during and after the tACS period. Additionally, the observed effects do not increase with prolonged stimulation time, as the effects plateau towards the end of the experiment. In conclusion, our proposed closed-loop scheme offers a promising advance for evaluating the effectiveness of tACS during the stimulation session. Specifically, the assessment criteria use participant-specific brain-based signals along with a behavioral output. Moreover, we propose a feedback efficacy score that can aid in determining the optimal stimulation duration based on a participant-specific brain state, thereby preventing the risk of overstimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalin Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241 Republic of Korea
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63100 USA
| | - Usman Ghafoor
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241 Republic of Korea
| | - Adam Thomas Eggebrecht
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63100 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130 USA
| | - Keum-Shik Hong
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241 Republic of Korea
- Institute for Future, School of Automation, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 Shandong China
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Jones KT, Ostrand AE, Gazzaley A, Zanto TP. Enhancing cognitive control in amnestic mild cognitive impairment via at-home non-invasive neuromodulation in a randomized trial. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7435. [PMID: 37156876 PMCID: PMC10167304 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34582-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with multi-domain amnestic mild cognitive impairment (md-aMCI) have an elevated risk of dementia and need interventions that may retain or remediate cognitive function. In a feasibility pilot study, 30 older adults aged 60-80 years with md-aMCI were randomized to 8 sessions of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with simultaneous cognitive control training (CCT). The intervention took place within the participant's home without direct researcher assistance. Half of the participants received prefrontal theta tACS during CCT and the other half received control tACS. We observed high tolerability and adherence for at-home tACS + CCT. Within 1-week, only those who received theta tACS exhibited improved attentional abilities. Neuromodulation is feasible for in-home settings, which can be conducted by the patient, thereby enabling treatment in difficult to reach populations. TACS with CCT may facilitate cognitive control abilities in md-aMCI, but research in a larger population is needed to validate efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin T Jones
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Sandler Neurosciences Center, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Avery E Ostrand
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco, 675 18th St, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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Davis MC, Fitzgerald PB, Bailey NW, Sullivan C, Stout JC, Hill AT, Hoy KE. Effects of medial prefrontal transcranial alternating current stimulation on neural activity and connectivity in people with Huntington's disease and neurotypical controls. Brain Res 2023; 1811:148379. [PMID: 37121424 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) targeted to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) on resting electroencephalographic (EEG) indices of oscillatory power, aperiodic exponent and offset, and functional connectivity in 22 late premanifest and early manifest stage individuals with HD and 20 neurotypical controls. Participants underwent three 20-minute sessions of tACS at least 72 hours apart; one session at alpha frequency (either each participant's Individualised Alpha Frequency (IAF), or 10Hz when an IAF was not detected); one session at delta frequency (2Hz); and a session of sham tACS. Session order was randomised and counterbalanced across participants. EEG recordings revealed a reduction of the spectral exponent ('flattening' of the 1/f slope) of the eyes-open aperiodic signal in participants with HD following alpha-tACS, suggestive of an enhancement in excitatory tone. Contrary to expectation, there were no changes in oscillatory power or functional connectivity in response to any of the tACS conditions in the participants with HD. By contrast, alpha-tACS increased delta power in neurotypical controls, who further demonstrated significant increases in theta power and theta functional connectivity in response to delta-tACS. This study contributes to the rapidly growing literature on the potential experimental and therapeutic applications of tACS by examining neurophysiological outcome measures in people with HD as well as neurotypical controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Claire Davis
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Statewide Progressive Neurological Disease Service, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Victoria Australia.
| | - Paul B Fitzgerald
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Neil W Bailey
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Monarch Research Institute Monarch Mental Health Group, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Caley Sullivan
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Julie C Stout
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aron T Hill
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kate E Hoy
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; The Bionics Institute of Australia, 384-388 Albert St, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
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Davis MC, Hill AT, Fitzgerald PB, Bailey NW, Sullivan C, Stout JC, Hoy KE. Medial prefrontal transcranial alternating current stimulation for apathy in Huntington's disease. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 126:110776. [PMID: 37120005 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) targeted to the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and administered at either delta or alpha frequencies, on brain activity and apathy in people with Huntington's disease (HD) (n = 17). Given the novelty of the protocol, neurotypical controls (n = 20) were also recruited. All participants underwent three 20-min sessions of tACS; one session at alpha frequency (Individualised Alpha Frequency (IAF), or 10 Hz when an IAF was not detected); one session at delta frequency (2 Hz); and a session of sham tACS. Participants completed the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task with simultaneous recording of EEG immediately before and after each tACS condition. The MID task presents participants with cues signalling potential monetary gains or losses that increase activity in key regions of the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical networks, with dysfunction of the latter network being implicated in the pathophysiology of apathy. We used the P300 and Contingent Negative Variation (CNV) event-related potentials elicited during the MID task as markers of mPFC engagement. HD participants' CNV amplitude significantly increased in response to alpha-tACS, but not delta-tACS or sham. Neurotypical controls' P300 and CNV were not modulated by any of the tACS conditions, but they did demonstrate a significant decrease in post-target response times following alpha-tACS. We present this as preliminary evidence of the ability of alpha-tACS to modulate brain activity associated with apathy in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Claire Davis
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Statewide Progressive Neurological Disease Service, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Aron T Hill
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul B Fitzgerald
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Neil W Bailey
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Monarch Research Institute Monarch Mental Health Group, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Caley Sullivan
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Julie C Stout
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kate E Hoy
- Central Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; The Bionics Institute of Australia, 384-388 Albert St, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
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Wischnewski M, Alekseichuk I, Opitz A. Neurocognitive, physiological, and biophysical effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation. Trends Cogn Sci 2023; 27:189-205. [PMID: 36543610 PMCID: PMC9852081 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can modulate human neural activity and behavior. Accordingly, tACS has vast potential for cognitive research and brain disorder therapies. The stimulation generates oscillating electric fields in the brain that can bias neural spike timing, causing changes in local neural oscillatory power and cross-frequency and cross-area coherence. tACS affects cognitive performance by modulating underlying single or nested brain rhythms, local or distal synchronization, and metabolic activity. Clinically, stimulation tailored to abnormal neural oscillations shows promising results in alleviating psychiatric and neurological symptoms. We summarize the findings of tACS mechanisms, its use for cognitive applications, and novel developments for personalized stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ivan Alekseichuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Alexander Opitz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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12
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Martin DM, Berryhill ME, Dielenberg V. Can brain stimulation enhance cognition in clinical populations? A critical review. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2022:RNN211230. [PMID: 36404559 DOI: 10.3233/rnn-211230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Many psychiatric and neurological conditions are associated with cognitive impairment for which there are very limited treatment options. Brain stimulation methodologies show promise as novel therapeutics and have cognitive effects. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), known more for its related transient adverse cognitive effects, can produce significant cognitive improvement in the weeks following acute treatment. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is increasingly used as a treatment for major depression and has acute cognitive effects. Emerging research from controlled studies suggests that repeated TMS treatments may additionally have cognitive benefit. ECT and TMS treatment cause neurotrophic changes, although whether these are associated with cognitive effects remains unclear. Transcranial electrical stimulation methods including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) are in development as novel treatments for multiple psychiatric conditions. These treatments may also produce cognitive enhancement particularly when stimulation occurs concurrently with a cognitive task. This review summarizes the current clinical evidence for these brain stimulation treatments as therapeutics for enhancing cognition. Acute, or short-lasting, effects as well as longer-term effects from repeated treatments are reviewed, together with potential putative neural mechanisms. Areas of future research are highlighted to assist with optimization of these approaches for enhancing cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donel M. Martin
- Sydney Neurostimulation Centre, Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health UNSW, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marian E. Berryhill
- Memory and Brain Lab, Programs in Cognitive and Brain Sciences, and Integrative Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Victoria Dielenberg
- Sydney Neurostimulation Centre, Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health UNSW, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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13
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Wischnewski M, Compen B. Effects of theta transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on exploration and exploitation during uncertain decision-making. Behav Brain Res 2022; 426:113840. [PMID: 35325684 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Exploring ones surroundings may yield unexpected rewards, but is associated with uncertainty and risk. Alternatively, exploitation of certain outcomes is related to low risk, yet potentially better outcomes remain unexamined. As such, risk-taking behavior depends on perceived uncertainty and a trade-off between exploration-exploitation. Previously, it has been suggested that risk-taking may relate to theta activity in the prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, previous studies hinted at a relationship between a right-hemispheric bias in frontal theta asymmetry and risky behavior. In the present double-blind sham-controlled within-subject study, we applied bifrontal transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at the theta frequency (5 Hz) on eighteen healthy volunteers during a gambling task. Two tACS montages with either left-right or posterior-anterior current flow were employed at an intensity of 1 mA. Results showed that, compared to sham, theta tACS increased perceived uncertainty irrespective of current flow direction. Despite this observation, no direct effect of tACS on exploration behavior and general risk-taking was observed. Furthermore, frontal theta asymmetry was more right-hemispherically biased after posterior-anterior tACS, compared to sham. Finally, we used electric field simulation to identify which regions were targeted by the tACS montages as an overlap in regions may explain why the two montages resulted in comparable outcomes. Our findings provide a first step towards understanding the relationship between frontal theta oscillations and different features of risk-taking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
| | - Boukje Compen
- School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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14
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Suzuki M, Tanaka S, Gomez-Tames J, Okabe T, Cho K, Iso N, Hirata A. Nonequivalent After-Effects of Alternating Current Stimulation on Motor Cortex Oscillation and Inhibition: Simulation and Experimental Study. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12020195. [PMID: 35203958 PMCID: PMC8870173 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) frequency on brain oscillations and cortical excitability are still controversial. Therefore, this study investigated how different tACS frequencies differentially modulate cortical oscillation and inhibition. To do so, we first determined the optimal positioning of tACS electrodes through an electric field simulation constructed from magnetic resonance images. Seven electrode configurations were tested on the electric field of the precentral gyrus (hand motor area). We determined that the Cz-CP1 configuration was optimal, as it resulted in higher electric field values and minimized the intra-individual differences in the electric field. Therefore, tACS was delivered to the hand motor area through this arrangement at a fixed frequency of 10 Hz (alpha-tACS) or 20 Hz (beta-tACS) with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.6 mA for 20 min. We found that alpha- and beta-tACS resulted in larger alpha and beta oscillations, respectively, compared with the oscillations observed after sham-tACS. In addition, alpha- and beta-tACS decreased the amplitudes of conditioned motor evoked potentials and increased alpha and beta activity, respectively. Correspondingly, alpha- and beta-tACSs enhanced cortical inhibition. These results show that tACS frequency differentially affects motor cortex oscillation and inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Suzuki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Kasei University, 2-15-1 Inariyama, Sayama 350-1398, Saitama, Japan; (T.O.); (K.C.); (N.I.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-42-955-6074
| | - Satoshi Tanaka
- Laboratory of Psychology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan;
| | - Jose Gomez-Tames
- Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Aichi, Japan; (J.G.-T.); (A.H.)
- Center of Biomedical Physics and Information Technology, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takuhiro Okabe
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Kasei University, 2-15-1 Inariyama, Sayama 350-1398, Saitama, Japan; (T.O.); (K.C.); (N.I.)
| | - Kilchoon Cho
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Kasei University, 2-15-1 Inariyama, Sayama 350-1398, Saitama, Japan; (T.O.); (K.C.); (N.I.)
| | - Naoki Iso
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Kasei University, 2-15-1 Inariyama, Sayama 350-1398, Saitama, Japan; (T.O.); (K.C.); (N.I.)
| | - Akimasa Hirata
- Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Aichi, Japan; (J.G.-T.); (A.H.)
- Center of Biomedical Physics and Information Technology, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Aichi, Japan
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15
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Rossi S, Santarnecchi E, Feurra M. Noninvasive brain stimulation and brain oscillations. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2022; 184:239-247. [PMID: 35034738 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819410-2.00013-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent technological advances in the field of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) have allowed to interact with endogenous brain oscillatory activity, the main neural communication code of our brain, opening new scenarios for transient modifications of cognitive and behavioral performances: such a possibility can be capitalized both for research purposes in healthy subjects, as well as in the context of therapeutic and rehabilitative settings. Among NiBS methodologies, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been the first used to this purpose, and also thanks to the technical development of TMS-EEG co-registering systems, the mechanistic knowledge regarding the role of brain oscillations has been improved. Another approach to brain oscillations considers electric stimulation methods, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and especially transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), for which -however- some technical and conceptual caveats have emerged. In this chapter, we briefly review the uses of NiBS in this field up to now, by providing an update on the current status of research applications as well as of its attempts of exploitation in translational clinical applications, especially regarding motor disorders and for understanding and reducing some psychiatric symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Rossi
- Unit of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
| | - Emiliano Santarnecchi
- Unit of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy; Berenson-Allen Center for Non-invasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matteo Feurra
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation
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16
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Kannen K, Aslan B, Boetzel C, Herrmann CS, Lux S, Rosen H, Selaskowski B, Wiebe A, Philipsen A, Braun N. P300 Modulation via Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Crossover Study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:928145. [PMID: 35923453 PMCID: PMC9339709 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.928145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A repeated finding regarding event-related potentials (ERPs) is that patients with ADHD show a reduced P300 amplitude. This raises the question of whether the attention of ADHD patients can be increased by stabilizing the P300. Assuming that the P300 is generated by event-related oscillations (EROs) in the low frequency range (0-8 Hz), one approach to increase the P300 could be to stimulate the patient's P300 underlying ERO by means of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). The aim of this follow-up study was to investigate this hypothesized mechanism of action in adult ADHD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Undergoing a crossover design, 20 adult ADHD patients (10 female) received an actual stimulation via tACS on one day and a sham stimulation on another day. Before and after each intervention, EEG characteristics (P300 amplitudes, low frequency power) and attention performances (d2 attention test, visual oddball task (VOT)) were recorded. RESULTS Electrophysiological analyses revealed no evidence for an enhanced P300 amplitude or low frequency power increase after actual stimulation compared to sham stimulation. Instead, a significant effect was found for a stronger N700 amplitude increase after actual stimulation compared to sham stimulation. Consistent with the P300 null results, none of the examined neuropsychological performance measures indicated a tACS-induced improvement in attentional ability. CONCLUSION Contrary to a previous study using tACS to modulate the P300 in adult ADHD patients, the current study yields no evidence that tACS can increase the P300 amplitude in adult ADHD patients and that such P300 enhancement can directly improve neuropsychological parameters of attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Kannen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Behrem Aslan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Cindy Boetzel
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christoph S Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Silke Lux
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Helena Rosen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Benjamin Selaskowski
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Annika Wiebe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Philipsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Niclas Braun
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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17
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Behavioral and electrocortical effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation during advice-guided decision-making. NEUROIMAGE: REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2021.100052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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18
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Orendáčová M, Kvašňák E. Effects of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation and Neurofeedback on Alpha (EEG) Dynamics: A Review. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:628229. [PMID: 34305549 PMCID: PMC8297546 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.628229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and neurofeedback (NFB) are two different types of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, which can modulate brain activity and improve brain functioning. In this review, we compared the current state of knowledge related to the mechanisms of tACS and NFB and their effects on electroencephalogram (EEG) activity (online period/stimulation period) and on aftereffects (offline period/post/stimulation period), including the duration of their persistence and potential behavioral benefits. Since alpha bandwidth has been broadly studied in NFB and in tACS research, the studies of NFB and tACS in modulating alpha bandwidth were selected for comparing the online and offline effects of these two neuromodulation techniques. The factors responsible for variability in the responsiveness of the modulated EEG activity by tACS and NFB were analyzed and compared too. Based on the current literature related to tACS and NFB, it can be concluded that tACS and NFB differ a lot in the mechanisms responsible for their effects on an online EEG activity but they possibly share the common universal mechanisms responsible for the induction of aftereffects in the targeted stimulated EEG band, namely Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity. Many studies of both neuromodulation techniques report the aftereffects connected to the behavioral benefits. The duration of persistence of aftereffects for NFB and tACS is comparable. In relation to the factors influencing responsiveness to tACS and NFB, significantly more types of factors were analyzed in the NFB studies compared to the tACS studies. Several common factors for both tACS and NFB have been already investigated. Based on these outcomes, we propose several new research directions regarding tACS and NFB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mária Orendáčová
- Department of Medical Biophysics and Medical Informatics, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
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19
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Benussi A, Cantoni V, Cotelli MS, Cotelli M, Brattini C, Datta A, Thomas C, Santarnecchi E, Pascual-Leone A, Borroni B. Exposure to gamma tACS in Alzheimer's disease: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, crossover, pilot study. Brain Stimul 2021; 14:531-540. [PMID: 33762220 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess whether exposure to non-invasive brain stimulation with transcranial alternating current stimulation at γ frequency (γ-tACS) applied over Pz (an area overlying the medial parietal cortex and the precuneus) can improve memory and modulate cholinergic transmission in mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD). METHODS In this randomized, double-blind, sham controlled, crossover pilot study, participants were assigned to a single 60 min treatment with exposure to γ-tACS over Pz or sham tACS. Each subject underwent a clinical evaluation including assessment of episodic memory pre- and post-γ-tACS or sham stimulation. Indirect measures of cholinergic transmission evaluated using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) pre- and post-γ-tACS or sham tACS were evaluated. RESULTS Twenty MCI-AD participants completed the study. No tACS-related side effects were observed, and the intervention was well tolerated in all participants. We observed a significant improvement at the Rey auditory verbal learning (RAVL) test total recall (5.7 [95% CI, 4.0 to 7.4], p < 0.001) and long delayed recall scores (1.3 [95% CI, 0.4 to 2.1], p = 0.007) after γ-tACS but not after sham tACS. Face-name associations scores improved during γ-tACS (4.3 [95% CI, 2.8 to 5.8], p < 0.001) but not after sham tACS. Short latency afferent inhibition, an indirect measure of cholinergic transmission evaluated with TMS, increased only after γ-tACS (0.31 [95% CI, 0.24 to 0.38], p < 0.001) but not after sham tACS. CONCLUSIONS exposure to γ-tACS over Pz showed a significant improvement of memory performances, along with restoration of intracortical connectivity measures of cholinergic neurotransmission, compared to sham tACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Maria Cotelli
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Brattini
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Abhishek Datta
- Research & Development, Soterix Medical, Inc., New York, USA
| | - Chris Thomas
- Research & Development, Soterix Medical, Inc., New York, USA
| | - Emiliano Santarnecchi
- Berenson-Allen Center for Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and Center for Memory Health, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, USA; Guttmann Brain Health Institut, Institut Guttmann, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
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20
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Wischnewski M, Engelhardt M, Salehinejad MA, Schutter DJLG, Kuo MF, Nitsche MA. NMDA Receptor-Mediated Motor Cortex Plasticity After 20 Hz Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:2924-2931. [PMID: 29992259 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has been shown to modulate neural oscillations and excitability levels in the primary motor cortex (M1). These effects can last for more than an hour and an involvement of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) mediated synaptic plasticity has been suggested. However, to date the cortical mechanisms underlying tACS after-effects have not been explored. Here, we applied 20 Hz beta tACS to M1 while participants received either the NMDAR antagonist dextromethorphan or a placebo and the effects on cortical beta oscillations and excitability were explored. When a placebo medication was administered, beta tACS was found to increase cortical excitability and beta oscillations for at least 60 min, whereas when dextromethorphan was administered, these effects were completely abolished. These results provide the first direct evidence that tACS can induce NMDAR-mediated plasticity in the motor cortex, which contributes to our understanding of tACS-induced influences on human motor cortex physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Wischnewski
- Donders Centre for Cognition, Donders Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - M Engelhardt
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - M A Salehinejad
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - D J L G Schutter
- Donders Centre for Cognition, Donders Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - M-F Kuo
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - M A Nitsche
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
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21
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Wischnewski M, Joergensen ML, Compen B, Schutter DJLG. Frontal Beta Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Improves Reversal Learning. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:3286-3295. [PMID: 31898728 PMCID: PMC7197207 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroencephalogram (EEG) studies suggest an association between beta (13-30 Hz) power and reversal learning performance. In search for direct evidence concerning the involvement of beta oscillations in reversal learning, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) was applied in a double-blind, sham-controlled and between-subjects design. Exogenous oscillatory currents were administered bilaterally to the frontal cortex at 20 Hz with an intensity of 1 mA peak-to-peak and the effects on reward-punishment based reversal learning were evaluated in hundred-and-eight healthy volunteers. Pre- and post-tACS resting state EEG recordings were analyzed. Results showed that beta-tACS improved rule implementation during reversal learning and decreases left and right resting-state frontal theta/beta EEG ratios following tACS. Our findings provide the first behavioral and electrophysiological evidence for exogenous 20 Hz oscillatory electric field potentials administered over to the frontal cortex to improve reversal learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, 6537 RD, The Netherlands
| | - Mie L Joergensen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, 6537 RD, The Netherlands
| | - Boukje Compen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, 6537 RD, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis J L G Schutter
- Helmholtz Institute, Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CS, The Netherlands
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22
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Deng Y, Reinhart RMG, Choi I, Shinn-Cunningham BG. Causal links between parietal alpha activity and spatial auditory attention. eLife 2019; 8:e51184. [PMID: 31782732 PMCID: PMC6904218 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Both visual and auditory spatial selective attention result in lateralized alpha (8-14 Hz) oscillatory power in parietal cortex: alpha increases in the hemisphere ipsilateral to attentional focus. Brain stimulation studies suggest a causal relationship between parietal alpha and suppression of the representation of contralateral visual space. However, there is no evidence that parietal alpha controls auditory spatial attention. Here, we performed high definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) on human subjects performing an auditory task in which they directed attention based on either spatial or nonspatial features. Alpha (10 Hz) but not theta (6 Hz) HD-tACS of right parietal cortex interfered with attending left but not right auditory space. Parietal stimulation had no effect for nonspatial auditory attention. Moreover, performance in post-stimulation trials returned rapidly to baseline. These results demonstrate a causal, frequency-, hemispheric-, and task-specific effect of parietal alpha brain stimulation on top-down control of auditory spatial attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Deng
- Biomedical EngineeringBoston UniversityBostonUnited States
| | | | - Inyong Choi
- Communication Sciences and DisordersUniversity of IowaIowa CityUnited States
| | - Barbara G Shinn-Cunningham
- Biomedical EngineeringBoston UniversityBostonUnited States
- Neuroscience InstituteCarnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghUnited States
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23
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Wischnewski M, Schutter DJ, Nitsche MA. Effects of beta-tACS on corticospinal excitability: A meta-analysis. Brain Stimul 2019; 12:1381-1389. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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24
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Bland NS, Sale MV. Current challenges: the ups and downs of tACS. Exp Brain Res 2019; 237:3071-3088. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-019-05666-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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25
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Wischnewski M, Schutter DJLG. Electrophysiological correlates of prediction formation in anticipation of reward- and punishment-related feedback signals. Psychophysiology 2019; 56:e13379. [PMID: 31025375 PMCID: PMC6850464 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Feedback processing during decision making involves comparing anticipated and actual outcome. Although effects on ERPs of valence, magnitude, expectancy, and context during feedback processing have been extensively investigated, the electrophysiological processes underlying prediction formation in anticipation of feedback signals have received little attention. The aim of the present study was to explore these processes of prediction formation and their influence on subsequent feedback signals. Twenty healthy, right‐handed volunteers performed a forced‐choice task in which they had to indicate which of two presented objects was more expensive. After the volunteer's choice, an expert cue, which was accurate in 80% of trials, was presented to manipulate prediction formation about future reward and punishment. ERPs were recorded during presentation of the expert cue and during feedback. Results revealed that prediction formation of future rewards and punishments is accompanied by differences in the P2 component and a subsequent delay period. During feedback processing, the prediction‐related P2 was associated with the processing of valence reflected in the feedback‐related P2. Furthermore, the prediction‐related difference in the delay period was associated with error processing in feedback‐related medial frontal negativity. These findings suggest that prediction signals prior to feedback contain information about whether a prediction is correct or wrong (expectancy) and if the outcome will be a reward or punishment (valence). During feedback processing, a prediction of future outcome is affected by contextual information. Here, we show that electrocortical signals related to future outcome following contextual information inversely predict reward signals during feedback processing. Additionally, signal differences after presentation of contextual information relate to future signal differences reflecting prediction error during feedback processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Wischnewski
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis J L G Schutter
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Frontal cortex electrophysiology in reward- and punishment-related feedback processing during advice-guided decision making: An interleaved EEG-DC stimulation study. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2019; 18:249-262. [PMID: 29380293 PMCID: PMC5889418 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-018-0566-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
During decision making, individuals are prone to rely on external cues such as expert advice when the outcome is not known. However, the electrophysiological correlates associated with outcome uncertainty and the use of expert advice are not completely understood. The feedback-related negativity (FRN), P3a, and P3b are event-related brain potentials (ERPs) linked to dissociable stages of feedback and attentional processing during decision making. Even though these ERPs are influenced by both reward- and punishment-related feedback, it remains unclear how extrinsic information during uncertainty modulates these brain potentials. In this study, the effects of advice cues on decision making were investigated in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded in healthy volunteers during a decision-making task in which the participants received reward or punishment feedback preceded by novice, amateur, or expert advice. The results showed that the P3a component was significantly influenced by the subjective predictive value of an advice cue, whereas the FRN and P3b were unaffected by the advice cues. In the second, sham-controlled experiment, cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) was administered in conjunction with EEG in order to explore the direct contributions of the frontal cortex to these brain potentials. Results showed no significant change in either advice-following behavior or decision times. However, ctDCS did decrease FRN amplitudes as compared to sham, with no effect on the P3a or P3b. Together, these findings suggest that advice information may act primarily on attention allocation during feedback processing, whereas the electrophysiological correlates of the detection and updating of internal prediction models are not affected.
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27
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Popp F, Dallmer-Zerbe I, Philipsen A, Herrmann CS. Challenges of P300 Modulation Using Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS). Front Psychol 2019; 10:476. [PMID: 30890990 PMCID: PMC6411790 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The P300 component of the event-related potential (ERP) is a well investigated phenomenon in the human electroencephalogram (EEG) and has been related to stimulus processing and attentional mechanisms. Event-related oscillations (ERO) represent a potential mechanism responsible for generating the ERP. In particular, oscillatory activity in the delta and theta frequency range has been associated with the generation of the P300 component. Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) is capable of modulating oscillatory brain activity in a frequency-specific manner. In this study, we aimed to modulate P300 amplitude using tACS by stimulating the individual ERO involved in the generation of the P300 component. TACS was applied precisely in time to the target P300 occurring in a visual oddball task. In order to achieve an appropriate current distribution, we designed an electrode configuration consisting of two clusters of stimulation electrodes on central-parietal locations. We could not demonstrate a group difference in P300 amplitude after applying tACS in the stimulation condition (N = 17) vs. the sham condition (N = 11). TACS condition and sham condition did not differ regarding their reaction times in response to target stimuli or their event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) at stimulation frequency. Although a significant influence of stimulation could not yet be revealed on a statistical level, we suggest that the proposed method of using tACS for modulating EROs merits further investigation. Modulation of the P300 component in the ERP could help to gain further insights in the role of EROs generating ERPs and the functional relevance of the P300 component. In this study, we propose a novel approach of applying tACS and provide advice on using tACS for the modulation of EROs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Popp
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence “Hearing for All”, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Isa Dallmer-Zerbe
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence “Hearing for All”, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Philipsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universität of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christoph S. Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence “Hearing for All”, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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28
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Modulation of Motor Learning Capacity by Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation. Neuroscience 2018; 391:131-139. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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