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Varma MM, Zeng S, Singh L, Holmes EA, Huang J, Chiu MH, Hu X. A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental methods for modulating intrusive memories following lab-analogue trauma exposure in non-clinical populations. Nat Hum Behav 2024:10.1038/s41562-024-01956-y. [PMID: 39169230 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01956-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Experiencing trauma leads to intrusive memories (IMs), a hallmark symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which also occurs transdiagnostically. Understanding why IMs increase or decrease is pivotal in developing interventions to support mental health. In this preregistered meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42021224835), we included 134 articles (131 techniques, 606 effect sizes and 12,074 non-clinical participants) to investigate how experimental techniques alter IM frequency, intrusion-related distress and symptoms arising from lab-analogue trauma exposure. Eligible articles were identified by searching eight databases until 12 December 2023. To test potential publication biases, we employed methods including Egger's test and three-parameter selection models. We employed three-level multilevel modelling and meta-regressions to examine whether and how experimental techniques would modulate IM frequency and associated outcomes. Results showed that techniques (behavioural, pharmacological, neuromodulation) significantly reduced intrusion frequency (g = 0.16, 95% confidence interval [0.09, 0.23]). Notably, techniques aimed to reduce IMs also ameliorated intrusion-related distress and symptoms, while techniques that increased IMs exacerbated these related outcomes, thus highlighting IM's centrality in PTSD-like symptoms. Techniques tapping into mental imagery processing (for example, trauma reminder followed by playing Tetris) reduced intrusions when administered immediately after, or at a delayed time after trauma. Although our meta-analysis is limited to symptoms induced by lab-analogue trauma exposure, some lab-based results have now generalized to real-world trauma and IMs, highlighting the promising utility of lab-analogue trauma paradigms for intervention development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohith M Varma
- Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shengzi Zeng
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The State Key Lab of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura Singh
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Emily A Holmes
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jingyun Huang
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Man Hey Chiu
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiaoqing Hu
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- The State Key Lab of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- HKU-Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Shenzhen, China.
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2
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Manippa V, Nitsche MA, Filardi M, Vilella D, Scianatico G, Logroscino G, Rivolta D. Temporal gamma tACS and auditory stimulation affect verbal memory in healthy adults. Psychophysiology 2024:e14653. [PMID: 39014532 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14653] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Research suggests a potential of gamma oscillation entrainment for enhancing memory in Alzheimer's disease and healthy subjects. Gamma entrainment can be accomplished with oscillatory electrical, but also sensory stimulation. However, comparative studies between sensory stimulation and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) effects on memory processes are lacking. This study examined the effects of rhythmic gamma auditory stimulation (rAS) and temporal gamma-tACS on verbal long-term memory (LTM) and working memory (WM) in 74 healthy individuals. Participants were assigned to two groups according to the stimulation techniques (rAS or tACS). Memory was assessed in three experimental blocks, in which each participant was administered with control, 40, and 60 Hz stimulation in counterbalanced order. All interventions were well-tolerated, and participants reported mostly comparable side effects between real stimulation (40 and 60 Hz) and the control condition. LTM immediate and delayed recall remained unaffected by stimulations, while immediate recall intrusions decreased during 60 Hz stimulation. Notably, 40 Hz interventions improved WM compared to control stimulations. These results highlight the potential of 60 and 40 Hz temporal cortex stimulation for reducing immediate LTM recall intrusions and improving WM performance, respectively, probably due to the entrainment of specific gamma oscillations in the auditory cortex. The results also shed light on the comparative effects of these neuromodulation tools on memory functions, and their potential applications for cognitive enhancement and in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Manippa
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Lecce, Italy
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Bochum, Germany
- University Hospital OWL, Protestant Hospital of Bethel Foundation, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Marco Filardi
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Lecce, Italy
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Davide Vilella
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Lecce, Italy
| | - Gaetano Scianatico
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Lecce, Italy
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Davide Rivolta
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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3
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Ku Y. The Mystery 40 Hz: Unraveling the Efficacy of Rhythmic Stimulation in Alzheimer's Disease. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:831-834. [PMID: 38240990 PMCID: PMC11178681 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01165-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Ku
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Center for Brain and Mental Well-being, Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
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4
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Diaz-Fong JP, Feusner JD. Visual Perceptual Processing Abnormalities in Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38691313 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2024_472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Phenomenological observations of individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), coupled with evidence from neuropsychological, psychophysical, and neuroimaging studies, support a model of aberrant visual perception characterized by deficient global/holistic, enhanced detail/local processing, and selective visual-attentional biases. These features may contribute to the core symptomatology of distorted perception of their appearance, in addition to misinterpretation of others' facial expressions and poor insight regarding their misperceived appearance defects. Insights from visual processing studies can contribute to the development of novel interventions, such as perceptual retraining and non-invasive neuromodulation. However, much remains to be understood about visual perception in BDD. Future research should leverage brain imaging modalities with high temporal resolutions and employ study designs that induce conflicts in multisensory integration, thereby advancing our mechanistic understanding of distorted visual perception observed in BDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel P Diaz-Fong
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jamie D Feusner
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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5
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Manippa V, Palmisano A, Nitsche MA, Filardi M, Vilella D, Logroscino G, Rivolta D. Cognitive and Neuropathophysiological Outcomes of Gamma-tACS in Dementia: A Systematic Review. Neuropsychol Rev 2024; 34:338-361. [PMID: 36877327 PMCID: PMC10920470 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-023-09589-0] [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: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite the numerous pharmacological interventions targeting dementia, no disease-modifying therapy is available, and the prognosis remains unfavorable. A promising perspective involves tackling high-frequency gamma-band (> 30 Hz) oscillations involved in hippocampal-mediated memory processes, which are impaired from the early stages of typical Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Particularly, the positive effects of gamma-band entrainment on mouse models of AD have prompted researchers to translate such findings into humans using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), a methodology that allows the entrainment of endogenous cortical oscillations in a frequency-specific manner. This systematic review examines the state-of-the-art on the use of gamma-tACS in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia patients to shed light on its feasibility, therapeutic impact, and clinical effectiveness. A systematic search from two databases yielded 499 records resulting in 10 included studies and a total of 273 patients. The results were arranged in single-session and multi-session protocols. Most of the studies demonstrated cognitive improvement following gamma-tACS, and some studies showed promising effects of gamma-tACS on neuropathological markers, suggesting the feasibility of gamma-tACS in these patients anyhow far from the strong evidence available for mouse models. Nonetheless, the small number of studies and their wide variability in terms of aims, parameters, and measures, make it difficult to draw firm conclusions. We discuss results and methodological limitations of the studies, proposing possible solutions and future avenues to improve research on the effects of gamma-tACS on dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Manippa
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
| | - Annalisa Palmisano
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Marco Filardi
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Davide Vilella
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Davide Rivolta
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
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6
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Manippa V, Filardi M, Vilella D, Logroscino G, Rivolta D. Gamma (60 Hz) auditory stimulation improves intrusions but not recall and working memory in healthy adults. Behav Brain Res 2024; 456:114703. [PMID: 37806563 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114703] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Gamma-band (> 30 Hz) brain oscillations (γ) play a crucial role in memory and long-term potentiation, and their disruptions have been consistently documented in patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Gamma-band oscillation entrainment through 60 Hz transcranial alternating stimulation (tACS) and 40 Hz tACS/sensory stimulation has been shown to enhance memory performance in healthy adults and patients with AD, respectively. However, the impact of gamma auditory stimulation on healthy adults' memory remains uncertain. In this balanced crossover study, 36 healthy subjects (27 Females) underwent three auditory stimulation conditions: no auditory stimulation (NO_AS), 40 Hz, and 60 Hz. Long-term verbal memory (LTM) and verbal working memory (WM) were assessed using, respectively, the Ray Auditory Verbal Test (RAVLT) and Digit Span Backward test (DS-B). We hypothesized that 60 Hz would improve LTM (as compared to NO_AS), but not WM; no specific effects were hypothesized for 40 Hz. We found that gamma-band auditory stimulation (40 Hz and 60 Hz) did not significantly affect RAVLT recall or WM. However, 60 Hz stimulation reduced RAVLT immediate recall intrusion; this outcome negatively correlated with DS-B performance, suggesting a positive impact of 60 Hz on executive functions. In summary, gamma-band auditory stimulation did not enhance memory in healthy adults, but 60 Hz stimulation potentially benefits executive functions. Further investigation is needed to understand gamma oscillation's role in cognitive processes for both healthy and clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Manippa
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
| | - Marco Filardi
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Tricase, Lecce, Italy; Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Davide Vilella
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione "Cardinale G. Panico", Tricase, Lecce, Italy; Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Davide Rivolta
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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7
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Kho SK, Keeble DRT, Wong HK, Estudillo AJ. Investigating the role of the fusiform face area and occipital face area using multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation. Neuropsychologia 2023; 189:108663. [PMID: 37611740 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The functional role of the occipital face area (OFA) and the fusiform face area (FFA) in face recognition is inconclusive to date. While some research has shown that the OFA and FFA are involved in early (i.e., featural processing) and late (i.e., holistic processing) stages of face recognition respectively, other research suggests that both regions are involved in both early and late stages of face recognition. Thus, the current study aims to further examine the role of the OFA and the FFA using multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). In Experiment 1, we used computer-generated faces. Thirty-five participants completed whole face and facial features (i.e., eyes, nose, mouth) recognition tasks after OFA and FFA stimulation in a within-subject design. No difference was found in recognition performance after either OFA or FFA stimulation. In Experiment 2 with 60 participants, we used real faces, provided stimulation following a between-subjects design and included a sham control group. Results showed that FFA stimulation led to enhanced efficiency of facial features recognition. Additionally, no effect of OFA stimulation was found for either facial feature or whole face recognition. These results suggest the involvement of FFA in the recognition of facial features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siew Kei Kho
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, UK; School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Malaysia.
| | | | - Hoo Keat Wong
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Malaysia
| | - Alejandro J Estudillo
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, UK; School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Malaysia.
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8
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Manippa V, Palmisano A, Ventura M, Rivolta D. The Neural Correlates of Developmental Prosopagnosia: Twenty-Five Years on. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1399. [PMID: 37891769 PMCID: PMC10605188 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Faces play a crucial role in social interactions. Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) refers to the lifelong difficulty in recognizing faces despite the absence of obvious signs of brain lesions. In recent decades, the neural substrate of this condition has been extensively investigated. While early neuroimaging studies did not reveal significant functional and structural abnormalities in the brains of individuals with developmental prosopagnosia (DPs), recent evidence identifies abnormalities at multiple levels within DPs' face-processing networks. The current work aims to provide an overview of the convergent and contrasting findings by examining twenty-five years of neuroimaging literature on the anatomo-functional correlates of DP. We included 55 original papers, including 63 studies that compared the brain structure (MRI) and activity (fMRI, EEG, MEG) of healthy control participants and DPs. Despite variations in methods, procedures, outcomes, sample selection, and study design, this scoping review suggests that morphological, functional, and electrophysiological features characterize DPs' brains, primarily within the ventral visual stream. Particularly, the functional and anatomical connectivity between the Fusiform Face Area and the other face-sensitive regions seems strongly impaired. The cognitive and clinical implications as well as the limitations of these findings are discussed in light of the available knowledge and challenges in the context of DP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Manippa
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70122 Bari, Italy; (V.M.); (A.P.); (M.V.)
| | - Annalisa Palmisano
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70122 Bari, Italy; (V.M.); (A.P.); (M.V.)
- Chair of Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Martina Ventura
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70122 Bari, Italy; (V.M.); (A.P.); (M.V.)
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Development, Western Sydney University, Sydney 2145, Australia
| | - Davide Rivolta
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70122 Bari, Italy; (V.M.); (A.P.); (M.V.)
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Palmisano A, Chiarantoni G, Bossi F, Conti A, D'Elia V, Tagliente S, Nitsche MA, Rivolta D. Face pareidolia is enhanced by 40 Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) of the face perception network. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2035. [PMID: 36739325 PMCID: PMC9899232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29124-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pareidolia refers to the perception of ambiguous sensory patterns as carrying a specific meaning. In its most common form, pareidolia involves human-like facial features, where random objects or patterns are illusionary recognized as faces. The current study investigated the neurophysiological correlates of face pareidolia via transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). tACS was delivered at gamma (40 Hz) frequency over critical nodes of the "face perception" network (i.e., right lateral occipito-temporal and left prefrontal cortex) of 75 healthy participants while completing four face perception tasks ('Mooney test' for faces, 'Toast test', 'Noise pareidolia test', 'Pareidolia task') and an object perception task ('Mooney test' for objects). In this single-blind, sham-controlled between-subjects study, participants received 35 min of either Sham, Online, (40Hz-tACS_ON), or Offline (40Hz-tACS_PRE) stimulation. Results showed that face pareidolia was causally enhanced by 40Hz-tACS_PRE in the Mooney test for faces in which, as compared to sham, participants more often misperceived scrambled stimuli as faces. In addition, as compared to sham, participants receiving 40Hz-tACS_PRE showed similar reaction times (RTs) when perceiving illusory faces and correctly recognizing noise stimuli in the Toast test, thus not exhibiting hesitancy in identifying faces where there were none. Also, 40Hz-tACS_ON induced slower rejections of face pareidolia responses in the Noise pareidolia test. The current study indicates that 40 Hz tACS can enhance pareidolic illusions in healthy individuals and, thus, that high frequency (i.e., gamma band) oscillations are critical in forming coherent and meaningful visual perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Palmisano
- Department of Education, Psychology, and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
| | - Giulio Chiarantoni
- Department of Education, Psychology, and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Alessio Conti
- Department of Education, Psychology, and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Vitiana D'Elia
- Department of Education, Psychology, and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Serena Tagliente
- Department of Education, Psychology, and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Davide Rivolta
- Department of Education, Psychology, and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.,School of Psychology, University of East London (UEL), London, UK
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Estudillo AJ, Lee YJ, Álvarez-Montesinos JA, García-Orza J. High-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation enhances unfamiliar face matching of high resolution and pixelated faces. Brain Cogn 2023; 165:105937. [PMID: 36462222 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2022.105937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Face identification is useful for social interactions and its impairment can lead to severe social and mental problems. This ability is also remarkably important in applied settings, including eyewitness identification and ID verification. Several studies have demonstrated the potential of Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS) to enhance different cognitive skills. However, research has produced inconclusive results about the effectiveness of tRNS to improve face identification. The present study aims to further explore the effect of tRNS on face identification using an unfamiliar face matching task. Observers firstly received either high-frequency bilateral tRNS or sham stimulation for 20 min. The stimulation targeted occipitotemporal areas, which have been previously involved in face processing. In a subsequent stage, observers were asked to perform an unfamiliar face matching task consisting of unaltered and pixelated face pictures. Compared to the sham stimulation group, the high-frequency tRNS group showed better unfamiliar face matching performance with both unaltered and pixelated faces. Our results show that a single high-frequency tRNS session might suffice to improve face identification abilities. These results have important consequences for the treatment of face recognition disorders, and potential applications in those scenarios whereby the identification of faces is primordial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ye Ji Lee
- University of Nottingham Malaysia, Malaysia
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11
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Liu Y, Liu S, Tang C, Tang K, Liu D, Chen M, Mao Z, Xia X. Transcranial alternating current stimulation combined with sound stimulation improves cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 14:1068175. [PMID: 36698862 PMCID: PMC9869764 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1068175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The number of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) worldwide is increasing yearly, but the existing treatment methods have poor efficacy. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a new treatment for AD, but the offline effect of tACS is insufficient. To prolong the offline effect, we designed to combine tACS with sound stimulation to maintain the long-term post-effect. Materials and methods To explore the safety and effectiveness of tACS combined with sound stimulation and its impact on the cognition of AD patients. This trial will recruit 87 patients with mild to moderate AD. All patients were randomly divided into three groups. The change in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) scores from the day before treatment to the end of treatment and 3 months after treatment was used as the main evaluation index. We will also explore the changes in the brain structural network, functional network, and metabolic network of AD patients in each group after treatment. Discussion We hope to conclude that tACS combined with sound stimulation is safe and tolerable in 87 patients with mild to moderate AD under three standardized treatment regimens. Compared with tACS alone or sound alone, the combination group had a significant long-term effect on cognitive improvement. To screen out a better treatment plan for AD patients. tACS combined with sound stimulation is a previously unexplored, non-invasive joint intervention to improve patients' cognitive status. This study may also identify the potential mechanism of tACS combined with sound stimulation in treating mild to moderate AD patients. Clinical Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05251649. Registered on February 22, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | | | - Can Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Keke Tang
- Guangzhou Kangzhi Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Di Liu
- Guangzhou Kangzhi Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Meilian Chen
- Guangzhou Kangzhi Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiqi Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Zhiqi Mao, ; Xuewei Xia,
| | - Xuewei Xia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China,*Correspondence: Zhiqi Mao, ; Xuewei Xia,
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12
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10 Minutes Frontal 40 Hz tACS-Effects on Working Memory Tested by Luck-Vogel Task. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 13:bs13010039. [PMID: 36661611 PMCID: PMC9855106 DOI: 10.3390/bs13010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Working memory is a cognitive process that involves short-term active maintenance, flexible updating, and processing of goal- or task-relevant information. All frequency bands are involved in working memory. The activities of the theta and gamma frequency bands in the frontoparietal network are highly involved in working memory processes; theta oscillations play a role in the temporal organization of working memory items, and gamma oscillations influence the maintenance of information in working memory. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) results in frequency-specific modulation of endogenous oscillations and has shown promising results in cognitive neuroscience. The electrophysiological and behavioral changes induced by the modulation of endogenous gamma frequency in the prefrontal cortex using tACS have not been extensively studied in the context of working memory. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of frontal gamma-tACS on working memory outcomes. We hypothesized that a 10-min gamma tACS administered over the frontal cortex would significantly improve working memory outcomes. Young healthy participants performed Luck-Vogel cognitive behavioral tasks with simultaneous pre- and post-intervention EEG recording (Sham versus 40 Hz tACS). Data from forty-one participants: sham (15 participants) and tACS (26 participants), were used for the statistical and behavioral analysis. The relative changes in behavioral outcomes and EEG due to the intervention were analyzed. The results show that tACS caused an increase in the power spectral density in the high beta and low gamma EEG bands and a decrease in left-right coherence. On the other hand, tACS had no significant effect on success rates and response times. Conclusion: 10 min of frontal 40 Hz tACS was not sufficient to produce detectable behavioral effects on working memory, whereas electrophysiological changes were evident. The limitations of the current stimulation protocol and future directions are discussed in detail in the following sections.
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Manippa V, Palmisano A, Filardi M, Vilella D, Nitsche MA, Rivolta D, Logroscino G. An update on the use of gamma (multi)sensory stimulation for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1095081. [PMID: 36589536 PMCID: PMC9797689 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1095081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by reduced fast brain oscillations in the gamma band (γ, > 30 Hz). Several animal studies show that inducing gamma oscillations through (multi)sensory stimulation at 40 Hz has the potential to impact AD-related cognitive decline and neuropathological processes, including amyloid plaques deposition, neurofibrillary tangles formation, and neuronal and synaptic loss. Therefore Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory stimulation (GENUS) is among the most promising approaches for AD patients' treatment. This review summarizes the evidence on GENUS effectiveness, from animal models to AD patients. Despite the application on human is in its infancy, the available findings suggest its feasibility for the treatment of AD. We discuss such results in light of parameter improvement and possible underlying mechanisms. We finally emphasize the need for further research for its development as a disease-modifying non-pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Manippa
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy,Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany,*Correspondence: Valerio Manippa,
| | - Annalisa Palmisano
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Filardi
- Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy,Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione “Card. G. Panico”, Tricase, Italy
| | - Davide Vilella
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione “Card. G. Panico”, Tricase, Italy
| | - Michael A. Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany,Bielefeld University, University Hospital OWL, Protestant Hospital of Bethel Foundation, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and University Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Davide Rivolta
- Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy,Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione “Card. G. Panico”, Tricase, Italy
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14
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Liu Y, Tang C, Wei K, Liu D, Tang K, Chen M, Xia X, Mao Z. Transcranial alternating current stimulation combined with sound stimulation improves the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer's disease: A case report and literature review. Front Neurol 2022; 13:962684. [PMID: 36212652 PMCID: PMC9539040 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.962684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a relatively new non-invasive brain electrical stimulation method for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), but it has poor offline effects. Therefore, we applied a new combined stimulation method to observe the offline effect on the cognitive function of patients with AD. Here, we describe the clinical results of a case in which tACS combined with sound stimulation was applied to treat moderate AD. The patient was a 73-year-old woman with a 2-year history of persistent cognitive deterioration despite the administration of Aricept and Sodium Oligomannate. Therefore, the patient received tACS combined with sound stimulation. Her cognitive scale scores improved after 15 sessions and continued to improve at 4 months of follow-up. Although the current report may provide a new alternative therapy for patients with AD, more clinical data are needed to support its efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Can Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Kailun Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Di Liu
- Guangzhou Kangzhi Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Keke Tang
- Guangzhou Kangzhi Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Meilian Chen
- Guangzhou Kangzhi Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuewei Xia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- *Correspondence: Xuewei Xia
| | - Zhiqi Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Zhiqi Mao
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15
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80 Hz but not 40 Hz, transcranial alternating current stimulation of 80 Hz over right intraparietal sulcus increases visuospatial working memory capacity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13762. [PMID: 35962011 PMCID: PMC9374770 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17965-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Working memory (WM) is a complex cognitive function involved in the temporary storage and manipulation of information, which has been one of the target cognitive functions to be restored in neurorehabilitation. WM capacity is known to be proportional to the number of gamma cycles nested in a single theta cycle. Therefore, gamma-band transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) should be dependent of the stimulation frequency; however, the results of previous studies that employed 40 Hz tACS have not been consistent. The optimal locations and injection currents of multiple scalp electrodes were determined based on numerical simulations of electric field. Experiments were conducted with 20 healthy participants. The order of three stimulation conditions (40 Hz tACS, 80 Hz tACS, and sham stimulation) were randomized but counterbalanced. Visual hemifield-specific visual WM capacity was assessed using a delayed visual match to the sample task. High gamma tACS significantly increased WM capacity, while low gamma tACS had no significant effect. Notably, 80 Hz tACS increased WM capacity on both the left and right visual hemifields, while previous tACS studies only reported the effects of tACS on contralateral hemifields. This is the first study to investigate the frequency-dependent effect of gamma-band tACS on WM capacity. Our findings also suggest that high gamma tACS might influence not only WM capacity but also communication between interhemispheric cortical regions. It is expected that high gamma tACS could be a promising neurorehabilitation method to enhance higher-order cognitive functions with similar mechanisms.
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Palm U, Baumgartner C, Hoffmann L, Padberg F, Hasan A, Strube W, Papazova I. Single session gamma transcranial alternating stimulation does not modulate working memory in depressed patients and healthy controls. Neurophysiol Clin 2022; 52:128-136. [PMID: 35351388 DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation (gamma tACS) is considered a non-invasive brain stimulation technique for modulation of cognitive performance and for treatment of psychiatric disorders. There is heterogeneous data on its effectiveness in improving working memory. METHODS In this randomized crossover study, we tested 22 patients with major depression and 21 healthy volunteers who received 20 min of active and sham 40 Hz gamma tACS over bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during a computerized n-back task in a cross-over design. RESULTS We showed no improvement in reaction time and accuracy of working memory during active or sham stimulation in both groups, and no interaction between cognitive load and stimulation conditions. CONCLUSION The present study suggests that a single session of gamma tACS does not affect cognition in depression. However, the bilateral electrode montage and learning or ceiling effects may have affected results. Overall, this study is in line with the heterogeneous results of previous gamma tACS studies, emphasizing that methodologies and study designs should be harmonized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Palm
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Medical Park Chiemseeblick, Bernau-Felden, Germany.
| | - Carolin Baumgartner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lina Hoffmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Bezirkskrankenhaus Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Strube
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Bezirkskrankenhaus Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Irina Papazova
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Bezirkskrankenhaus Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
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17
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Al Qasem W, Abubaker M, Kvašňák E. Working Memory and Transcranial-Alternating Current Stimulation-State of the Art: Findings, Missing, and Challenges. Front Psychol 2022; 13:822545. [PMID: 35237214 PMCID: PMC8882605 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.822545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Working memory (WM) is a cognitive process that involves maintaining and manipulating information for a short period of time. WM is central to many cognitive processes and declines rapidly with age. Deficits in WM are seen in older adults and in patients with dementia, schizophrenia, major depression, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, etc. The frontal, parietal, and occipital cortices are significantly involved in WM processing and all brain oscillations are implicated in tackling WM tasks, particularly theta and gamma bands. The theta/gamma neural code hypothesis assumes that retained memory items are recorded via theta-nested gamma cycles. Neuronal oscillations can be manipulated by sensory, invasive- and non-invasive brain stimulations. Transcranial alternating-current stimulation (tACS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) are frequency-tuned non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques that have been used to entrain endogenous oscillations in a frequency-specific manner. Compared to rTMS, tACS demonstrates superior cost, tolerability, portability, and safety profile, making it an attractive potential tool for improving cognitive performance. Although cognitive research with tACS is still in its infancy compared to rTMS, a number of studies have shown a promising WM enhancement effect, especially in the elderly and patients with cognitive deficits. This review focuses on the various methods and outcomes of tACS on WM in healthy and unhealthy human adults and highlights the established findings, unknowns, challenges, and perspectives important for translating laboratory tACS into realistic clinical settings. This will allow researchers to identify gaps in the literature and develop frequency-tuned tACS protocols with promising safety and efficacy outcomes. Therefore, research efforts in this direction should help to consider frequency-tuned tACS as a non-pharmacological tool of cognitive rehabilitation in physiological aging and patients with cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiam Al Qasem
- Department of Medical Biophysics and Medical Informatics, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Praha, Czechia
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18
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Liu B, Yan X, Chen X, Wang Y, Gao X. tACS facilitates flickering driving by boosting steady-state visual evoked potentials. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 34962233 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac3ef3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective.There has become of increasing interest in transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) since its inception nearly a decade ago. tACS in modulating brain state is an active area of research and has been demonstrated effective in various neuropsychological and clinical domains. In the visual domain, much effort has been dedicated to brain rhythms and rhythmic stimulation, i.e. tACS. However, less is known about the interplay between the rhythmic stimulation and visual stimulation.Approach.Here, we used steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP), induced by flickering driving as a widely used technique for frequency-tagging, to investigate the aftereffect of tACS in healthy human subjects. Seven blocks of 64-channel electroencephalogram were recorded before and after the administration of 20min 10Hz tACS, while subjects performed several blocks of SSVEP tasks. We characterized the physiological properties of tACS aftereffect by comparing and validating the temporal, spatial, spatiotemporal and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) patterns between and within blocks in real tACS and sham tACS.Main results.Our result revealed that tACS boosted the 10Hz SSVEP significantly. Besides, the aftereffect on SSVEP was mitigated with time and lasted up to 5 min.Significance.Our results demonstrate the feasibility of facilitating the flickering driving by external rhythmic stimulation and open a new possibility to alter the brain state in a direction by noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingchuan Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Yan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaogang Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yijun Wang
- State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaorong Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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19
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Booth SJ, Taylor JR, Brown LJE, Pobric G. The effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation on memory performance in healthy adults: A systematic review. Cortex 2021; 147:112-139. [PMID: 35032750 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The recent introduction of Transcranial Alternating Current stimulation (tACS) in research on memory modulation has yielded some exciting findings. Whilst evidence suggests small but significant modulatory effects of tACS on perception and cognition, it is unclear how effective tACS is at modulating memory, and the neural oscillations underlying memory. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy with which tACS, compared to sham stimulation, can modify working memory (WM) and long-term memory (LTM) performance in healthy adults. We examined how these effects may be moderated by specific tACS parameters and study/participant characteristics. Our secondary goal was to investigate the neural correlates of tACS' effects on memory performance in healthy adults. A systematic search of eight databases yielded 11,413 records, resulting in 34 papers that included 104 eligible studies. The results were synthesised by memory type (WM/LTM) and according to the specific parameters of frequency band, stimulation montage, individual variability, cognitive demand, and phase. A second synthesis examined the correspondence between tACS' effects on memory performance and the oscillatory features of electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetencephalography (MEG) recordings in a subset of 26 studies. The results showed a small-to-medium effect of tACS on WM and LTM performance overall. There was strong evidence to suggest that posterior theta-tACS modulates WM performance, whilst the modulation of LTM is achieved by anterior gamma-tACS. Moreover, there was a correspondence between tACS effects on memory performance and oscillatory outcomes at the stimulation frequency. We discuss limitations in the field and suggest ways to improve our understanding of tACS efficacy to ensure a transition of tACS from an investigative method to a therapeutic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Booth
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, England, UK.
| | - Jason R Taylor
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, England, UK.
| | - Laura J E Brown
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, England, UK.
| | - Gorana Pobric
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, England, UK.
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20
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Mishra MV, Fry RM, Saad E, Arizpe JM, Ohashi YGB, DeGutis JM. Comparing the sensitivity of face matching assessments to detect face perception impairments. Neuropsychologia 2021; 163:108067. [PMID: 34673046 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Numerous neurological, developmental, and psychiatric conditions demonstrate impaired face recognition, which can be socially debilitating. These impairments can be caused by either deficient face perception or face memory mechanisms. Though there are well-validated, sensitive measures of face memory impairments, it currently remains unclear which assessments best measure face perception impairments. A sensitive, validated face perception measure could help with diagnosing causes of face recognition deficits and be useful in characterizing individual differences in unimpaired populations. Here, we compared the computerized Benton Face Recognition Test (BFRT-c) and Cambridge Face Perception Test (CFPT) in their ability to differentiate developmental prosopagnosics (DPs, N = 30) and age-matched controls (N = 30). Participants completed the BFRT-c, CFPT, and two additional face perception assessments: the University of Southern California Face Perception Test (USCFPT) and a novel same/different face matching test (SDFMT). Participants were also evaluated on objective and subjective face recognition tasks including the Cambridge Face Memory Test, famous faces test, and Prosopagnosia Index-20. We performed a logistic regression with the perception tests predicting DP vs. control group membership and used multiple linear regressions to predict continuous objective and subjective face recognition memory. Our results show that the BFRT-c performed as well as, if not better than, the CFPT, and that both tests clearly outperformed the USCFPT and SDFMT. Further, exploratory analyses revealed that face lighting-change conditions better predicted DP group membership and face recognition abilities than viewpoint-change conditions. Together, these results support the combined use of the BFRT-c and CFPT to best assess face perception impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maruti V Mishra
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare, Jamaica Plain Division, 150 S Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, USA
| | - Regan M Fry
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare, Jamaica Plain Division, 150 S Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elyana Saad
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph M Arizpe
- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuri-Grace B Ohashi
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard Decision Science Laboratory, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Joseph M DeGutis
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare, Jamaica Plain Division, 150 S Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, USA.
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21
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Chan D, Suk HJ, Jackson B, Milman NP, Stark D, Beach SD, Tsai LH. Induction of specific brain oscillations may restore neural circuits and be used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. J Intern Med 2021; 290:993-1009. [PMID: 34156133 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Brain oscillations underlie the function of our brains, dictating how we both think and react to the world around us. The synchronous activity of neurons generates these rhythms, which allow different parts of the brain to communicate and orchestrate responses to internal and external stimuli. Perturbations of cognitive rhythms and the underlying oscillator neurons that synchronize different parts of the brain contribute to the pathophysiology of diseases including Alzheimer's disease, (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), epilepsy and other diseases of rhythm that have been studied extensively by Gyorgy Buzsaki. In this review, we discuss how neurologists manipulate brain oscillations with neuromodulation to treat diseases and how this can be leveraged to improve cognition and pathology underlying AD. While multiple modalities of neuromodulation are currently clinically indicated for some disorders, nothing is yet approved for improving memory in AD. Recent investigations into novel methods of neuromodulation show potential for improving cognition in memory disorders. Here, we demonstrate that neuronal stimulation using audiovisual sensory stimulation that generated 40-HZ gamma waves reduced AD-specific pathology and improved performance in behavioural tests in mouse models of AD, making this new mode of neuromodulation a promising new avenue for developing a new therapeutic intervention for the treatment of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Chan
- From the, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - H-J Suk
- From the, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - B Jackson
- From the, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,McGovern Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - N P Milman
- From the, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - D Stark
- From the, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - S D Beach
- From the, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - L-H Tsai
- From the, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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22
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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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Boetzel C, Herrmann CS. Potential targets for the treatment of ADHD using transcranial electrical current stimulation. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2021; 264:151-170. [PMID: 34167654 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disease with a prevalence of 2%-7.5% among the population. It is characterized by three core symptoms: hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Although the majority of ADHD patients respond to a combination of psychotherapy and standard pharmacotherapy with Methylphenidate, there is a significant minority of patients that do not respond to these substances. Additionally, the treatment with Methylphenidate can cause a variety of side effects like insomnia, headache, decreased appetite, and xerostomia. It would be favorable to have an alternative treatment-option that could circumnavigate the shortcomings of traditional pharmacological treatments. Recent results show that transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) might offer a promising approach. Since research has shown that ADHD is associated with various alterations in brain activity, brain stimulation methods targeting different facets of neuronal functions are currently under investigation. In this article, we briefly review different tES techniques like transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and explain the modes of action of these brain stimulations. We will specifically focus on transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) as a potential method of treating ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Boetzel
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster of Excellence "Hearing for All," Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christoph S Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster of Excellence "Hearing for All," Carl von Ossietzky University, 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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The Modulation of Cognitive Performance with Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation: A Systematic Review of Frequency-Specific Effects. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10120932. [PMID: 33276533 PMCID: PMC7761592 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10120932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that allows the manipulation of intrinsic brain oscillations. Numerous studies have applied tACS in the laboratory to enhance cognitive performance. With this systematic review, we aim to provide an overview of frequency-specific tACS effects on a range of cognitive functions in healthy adults. This may help to transfer stimulation protocols to real-world applications. We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed and Cochrane databases and considered tACS studies in healthy adults (age > 18 years) that focused on cognitive performance. The search yielded n = 109 studies, of which n = 57 met the inclusion criteria. The results indicate that theta-tACS was beneficial for several cognitive functions, including working memory, executive functions, and declarative memory. Gamma-tACS enhanced performance in both auditory and visual perception but it did not change performance in tasks of executive functions. For attention, the results were less consistent but point to an improvement in performance with alpha- or gamma-tACS. We discuss these findings and point to important considerations that would precede a transfer to real-world applications.
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25
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Haller N, Senner F, Brunoni AR, Padberg F, Palm U. Gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation improves mood and cognition in patients with major depression. J Psychiatr Res 2020; 130:31-34. [PMID: 32771678 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Major depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders with a high rate of treatment resistance where new treatment options are urgently warranted. One of these new options are non-invasive brain stimulation techniques like transcranial magnetic or electric stimulation. One of the latter is transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) in various frequencies. Here, we report a case series of six patients suffering from major depression treated with tACS in gamma (40 Hz) frequency. Patients were randomized to two groups, receiving either two 10-min stimulations (group 1) or a 20-min stimulation or per day (group 2) over ten days. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory decreased during treatment in both study groups by 85% and 78% (group 1), or 62% and 24% respectively (group 2). Results also showed an improvement in cognitive functions assessed by word fluency and n-back test. It is hypothesized that gamma tACS could help to synchronize disturbed frequency bands in frontal and prefrontal cortex areas and thus restore dysbalanced neural connectivity in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas Haller
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Fanny Senner
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany; Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Andre R Brunoni
- Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Frank Padberg
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Palm
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany; Medical Park Chiemseeblick, Bernau, Felden, Germany.
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26
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Griskova-Bulanova I, Sveistyte K, Bjekic J. Neuromodulation of Gamma-Range Auditory Steady-State Responses: A Scoping Review of Brain Stimulation Studies. Front Syst Neurosci 2020; 14:41. [PMID: 32714158 PMCID: PMC7344212 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2020.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural oscillations represent a fundamental mechanism that enables coordinated action during normal brain functioning. Auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) are used to test the ability to generate gamma-range activity. Different non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have the potential to modulate neural activation patterns that are aberrant in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge on how different methods of NIBS (transcranial altering current stimulation—tACS, transcranial direct current stimulation—tDCS, transcranial random noise stimulation—tRNS, paired associative stimulation—PAS, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation—rTMS) affect the gamma-range ASSRs in both healthy and clinical populations. We show that the current research has been far from systematic and methodologically heterogeneous. Nevertheless, some brain stimulation techniques, especially tACS and rTMS show strong potential for further exploration. We outline the main findings and provide directions for further research into neuromodulation of ASSRs as a promising biomarker of different psychopathological conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristina Sveistyte
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jovana Bjekic
- Human Neuroscience Group, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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27
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Bossi F, Premoli I, Pizzamiglio S, Balaban S, Ricciardelli P, Rivolta D. Theta- and Gamma-Band Activity Discriminates Face, Body and Object Perception. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:74. [PMID: 32226369 PMCID: PMC7080986 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Face and body perception is mediated by configural mechanisms, which allow the perception of these stimuli as a whole, rather than the sum of individual parts. Indirect measures of configural processing in visual cognition are the face and body inversion effects (FIE and BIE), which refer to the drop in performance when these stimuli are perceived upside-down. Albeit FIE and BIE have been well characterized at the behavioral level, much still needs to be understood in terms of the neurophysiological correlates of these effects. Thus, in the current study, the brain’s electrical activity has been recorded by a 128 channel electroencephalogram (EEG) in 24 healthy participants while perceiving (upright and inverted) faces, bodies and houses. EEG data were analyzed in both the time domain (i.e., event-related potentials—ERPs) and the frequency domain [i.e., induced theta (5–7 Hz) and gamma (28–45 Hz) oscillations]. ERPs amplitude results showed increased N170 amplitude for inverted faces and bodies (compared to the same stimuli presented in canonical position) but not for houses. ERPs latency results showed delayed N170 components for inverted (vs. upright) faces, houses, but not bodies. Spectral analysis of induced oscillations indicated physiological FIE and BIE; that is decreased gamma-band synchronization over right occipito-temporal electrodes for inverted (vs. upright) faces, and increased bilateral frontoparietal theta-band synchronization for inverted (vs. upright) faces. Furthermore, increased left occipito-temporal and right frontal theta-band synchronization for upright (vs. inverted) bodies was found. Our findings, thus, demonstrate clear differences in the neurophysiological correlates of face and body perception. The neurophysiological FIE suggests disruption of feature binding processes (decrease in occipital gamma oscillations for inverted faces), together with enhanced feature-based attention (increase in frontoparietal theta oscillations for inverted faces). In contrast, the BIE may suggest that structural encoding for bodies is mediated by the first stages of configural processing (decrease in occipital theta oscillations for inverted bodies).
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Bossi
- Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,School of Psychology, University of East London (UEL), London, United Kingdom
| | - Isabella Premoli
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Pizzamiglio
- School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, University of East London (UEL), London, United Kingdom
| | - Sema Balaban
- School of Psychology, University of East London (UEL), London, United Kingdom
| | - Paola Ricciardelli
- Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,NeuroMI: Milan Center for Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Rivolta
- School of Psychology, University of East London (UEL), London, United Kingdom.,Department of Education, Psychology, and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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