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Bickel B, Giraud AL, Zuberbühler K, van Schaik CP. Language follows a distinct mode of extra-genomic evolution. Phys Life Rev 2024; 50:211-225. [PMID: 39153248 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2024.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
As one of the most specific, yet most diverse of human behaviors, language is shaped by both genomic and extra-genomic evolution. Sharing methods and models between these modes of evolution has significantly advanced our understanding of language and inspired generalized theories of its evolution. Progress is hampered, however, by the fact that the extra-genomic evolution of languages, i.e. linguistic evolution, maps only partially to other forms of evolution. Contrasting it with the biological evolution of eukaryotes and the cultural evolution of technology as the best understood models, we show that linguistic evolution is special by yielding a stationary dynamic rather than stable solutions, and that this dynamic allows the use of language change for social differentiation while maintaining its global adaptiveness. Linguistic evolution furthermore differs from technological evolution by requiring vertical transmission, allowing the reconstruction of phylogenies; and it differs from eukaryotic biological evolution by foregoing a genotype vs phenotype distinction, allowing deliberate and biased change. Recognising these differences will improve our empirical tools and open new avenues for analyzing how linguistic, cultural, and biological evolution interacted with each other when language emerged in the hominin lineage. Importantly, our framework will help to cope with unprecedented scientific and ethical challenges that presently arise from how rapid cultural evolution impacts language, most urgently from interventional clinical tools for language disorders, potential epigenetic effects of technology on language, artificial intelligence and linguistic communicators, and global losses of linguistic diversity and identity. Beyond language, the distinctions made here allow identifying variation in other forms of biological and cultural evolution, developing new perspectives for empirical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balthasar Bickel
- Department of Comparative Language Science, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language Evolution (ISLE), University of Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Anne-Lise Giraud
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Institut de l'Audition, Institut Pasteur, INSERM, Université Paris Cité, France
| | - Klaus Zuberbühler
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language Evolution (ISLE), University of Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland; School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Carel P van Schaik
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language Evolution (ISLE), University of Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
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2
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Gholamali Nezhad F, Martin J, Tassone VK, Swiderski A, Demchenko I, Khan S, Chaudhry HE, Palmisano A, Santarnecchi E, Bhat V. Transcranial alternating current stimulation for neuropsychiatric disorders: a systematic review of treatment parameters and outcomes. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1419243. [PMID: 39211537 PMCID: PMC11360874 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1419243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) alters cortical excitability with low-intensity alternating current and thereby modulates aberrant brain oscillations. Despite the recent increase in studies investigating the feasibility and efficacy of tACS in treating neuropsychiatric disorders, its mechanisms, as well as optimal stimulation parameters, are not fully understood. Objectives This systematic review aimed to compile human research on tACS for neuropsychiatric disorders to delineate typical treatment parameters for these conditions and evaluate its outcomes. Methods A search for published studies and unpublished registered clinical trials was conducted through OVID (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase), ClinicalTrials.gov, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Studies utilizing tACS to treat neuropsychiatric disorders in a clinical trial setting were included. Results In total, 783 published studies and 373 clinical trials were screened; 53 published studies and 70 clinical trials were included. Published studies demonstrated a low risk of bias, as assessed by the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Neurocognitive, psychotic, and depressive disorders were the most common disorders treated with tACS. Both published studies (58.5%) and registered clinical trials (52%) most commonly utilized gamma frequency bands and tACS was typically administered at an intensity of 2 mA peak-to-peak, once daily for 20 or fewer sessions. Although the targeted brain locations and tACS montages varied across studies based on the outcome measures and specific pathophysiology of the disorders, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was the most common target in both published studies (30.2%) and registered clinical trials (25.6%). Across studies that published results on tACS outcome measures, tACS resulted in enhanced symptoms and/or improvements in overall psychopathology for neurocognitive (all 11 studies), psychotic (11 out of 14 studies), and depressive (7 out of 8 studies) disorders. Additionally, 17 studies reported alterations in the power spectrum of the electroencephalogram around the entrained frequency band at the targeted locations following tACS. Conclusion Behavioral and cognitive symptoms have been positively impacted by tACS. The most consistent changes were reported in cognitive symptoms following gamma-tACS over the DLPFC. However, the paucity of neuroimaging studies for each neuropsychiatric condition highlights the necessity for replication studies employing biomarker- and mechanism-centric approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Gholamali Nezhad
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Josh Martin
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vanessa K. Tassone
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alyssa Swiderski
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ilya Demchenko
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Technology (iBEST), Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Somieya Khan
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hamzah E. Chaudhry
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Annalisa Palmisano
- Precision Neuroscience and Neuromodulation Program, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Chair of Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Emiliano Santarnecchi
- Precision Neuroscience and Neuromodulation Program, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Venkat Bhat
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Technology (iBEST), Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael’s Hospital - Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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3
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Thiele C, Rufener KS, Repplinger S, Zaehle T, Ruhnau P. Transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) influences event-related alpha activity during mental rotation. Psychophysiology 2024:e14651. [PMID: 38997805 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14651] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques offer therapeutic potential for neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, current methods are often limited in their stimulation depth. The novel transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) aims to overcome this limitation by non-invasively targeting deeper brain regions. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tTIS in modulating alpha activity during a mental rotation task. The effects of tTIS were compared with transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and a sham control. Participants were randomly assigned to a tTIS, tACS, or sham group. They performed alternating blocks of resting and mental rotation tasks before, during, and after stimulation. During the stimulation blocks, participants received 20 min of stimulation adjusted to their individual alpha frequency (IAF). We assessed shifts in resting state alpha power, event-related desynchronization (ERD) of alpha activity during mental rotation, as well as resulting improvements in behavioral performance. Our results indicate tTIS and tACS to be effective in modulating cortical alpha activity during mental rotation, leading to an increase in ERD from pre- to poststimulation as well as compared to sham stimulation. However, this increase in ERD was not correlated with enhanced mental rotation performance, and resting state alpha power remained unchanged. Our findings underscore the complex nature of tTIS and tACS efficacy, indicating that stimulation effects are more observable during active cognitive tasks, while their impacts are less pronounced on resting neuronal systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Thiele
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, University Clinic of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Katharina S Rufener
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine of Childhood and Adolescents, Otto-von-Guericke-University, University Clinic of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Repplinger
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, University Clinic of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tino Zaehle
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, University Clinic of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Ruhnau
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- School of Psychology and Humanities, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
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4
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Wu M, Auksztulewicz R, Riecke L. Multimodal acoustic-electric trigeminal nerve stimulation modulates conscious perception. Neuroimage 2024; 285:120476. [PMID: 38030051 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120476] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Multimodal stimulation can reverse pathological neural activity and improve symptoms in neuropsychiatric diseases. Recent research shows that multimodal acoustic-electric trigeminal-nerve stimulation (TNS) (i.e., musical stimulation synchronized to electrical stimulation of the trigeminal nerve) can improve consciousness in patients with disorders of consciousness. However, the reliability and mechanism of this novel approach remain largely unknown. We explored the effects of multimodal acoustic-electric TNS in healthy human participants by assessing conscious perception before and after stimulation using behavioral and neural measures in tactile and auditory target-detection tasks. To explore the mechanisms underlying the putative effects of acoustic-electric stimulation, we fitted a biologically plausible neural network model to the neural data using dynamic causal modeling. We observed that (1) acoustic-electric stimulation improves conscious tactile perception without a concomitant change in auditory perception, (2) this improvement is caused by the interplay of the acoustic and electric stimulation rather than any of the unimodal stimulation alone, and (3) the effect of acoustic-electric stimulation on conscious perception correlates with inter-regional connection changes in a recurrent neural processing model. These results provide evidence that acoustic-electric TNS can promote conscious perception. Alterations in inter-regional cortical connections might be the mechanism by which acoustic-electric TNS achieves its consciousness benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wu
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 EV Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Ryszard Auksztulewicz
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Lars Riecke
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 EV Maastricht, the Netherlands
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5
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Hovsepyan S, Olasagasti I, Giraud AL. Rhythmic modulation of prediction errors: A top-down gating role for the beta-range in speech processing. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011595. [PMID: 37934766 PMCID: PMC10655987 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural speech perception requires processing the ongoing acoustic input while keeping in mind the preceding one and predicting the next. This complex computational problem could be handled by a dynamic multi-timescale hierarchical inferential process that coordinates the information flow up and down the language network hierarchy. Using a predictive coding computational model (Precoss-β) that identifies online individual syllables from continuous speech, we address the advantage of a rhythmic modulation of up and down information flows, and whether beta oscillations could be optimal for this. In the model, and consistent with experimental data, theta and low-gamma neural frequency scales ensure syllable-tracking and phoneme-level speech encoding, respectively, while the beta rhythm is associated with inferential processes. We show that a rhythmic alternation of bottom-up and top-down processing regimes improves syllable recognition, and that optimal efficacy is reached when the alternation of bottom-up and top-down regimes, via oscillating prediction error precisions, is in the beta range (around 20-30 Hz). These results not only demonstrate the advantage of a rhythmic alternation of up- and down-going information, but also that the low-beta range is optimal given sensory analysis at theta and low-gamma scales. While specific to speech processing, the notion of alternating bottom-up and top-down processes with frequency multiplexing might generalize to other cognitive architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevada Hovsepyan
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Biotech Campus, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Itsaso Olasagasti
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Biotech Campus, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Lise Giraud
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Biotech Campus, Genève, Switzerland
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Institut de l’Audition, France
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Wang X, Delgado J, Marchesotti S, Kojovic N, Sperdin HF, Rihs TA, Schaer M, Giraud AL. Speech Reception in Young Children with Autism Is Selectively Indexed by a Neural Oscillation Coupling Anomaly. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6779-6795. [PMID: 37607822 PMCID: PMC10552944 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0112-22.2023] [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: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Communication difficulties are one of the core criteria in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and are often characterized by speech reception difficulties, whose biological underpinnings are not yet identified. This deficit could denote atypical neuronal ensemble activity, as reflected by neural oscillations. Atypical cross-frequency oscillation coupling, in particular, could disrupt the joint tracking and prediction of dynamic acoustic stimuli, a dual process that is essential for speech comprehension. Whether such oscillatory anomalies already exist in very young children with ASD, and with what specificity they relate to individual language reception capacity is unknown. We collected neural activity data using electroencephalography (EEG) in 64 very young children with and without ASD (mean age 3; 17 females, 47 males) while they were exposed to naturalistic-continuous speech. EEG power of frequency bands typically associated with phrase-level chunking (δ, 1-3 Hz), phonemic encoding (low-γ, 25-35 Hz), and top-down control (β, 12-20 Hz) were markedly reduced in ASD relative to typically developing (TD) children. Speech neural tracking by δ and θ (4-8 Hz) oscillations was also weaker in ASD compared with TD children. After controlling gaze-pattern differences, we found that the classical θ/γ coupling was replaced by an atypical β/γ coupling in children with ASD. This anomaly was the single most specific predictor of individual speech reception difficulties in ASD children. These findings suggest that early interventions (e.g., neurostimulation) targeting the disruption of β/γ coupling and the upregulation of θ/γ coupling could improve speech processing coordination in young children with ASD and help them engage in oral interactions.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Very young children already present marked alterations of neural oscillatory activity in response to natural speech at the time of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Hierarchical processing of phonemic-range and syllabic-range information (θ/γ coupling) is disrupted in ASD children. Abnormal bottom-up (low-γ) and top-down (low-β) coordination specifically predicts speech reception deficits in very young ASD children, and no other cognitive deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Wang
- Auditory Language Group, Department of Basic Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 1202
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Hearing Institute, Paris, France, 75012
| | - Jaime Delgado
- Auditory Language Group, Department of Basic Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 1202
| | - Silvia Marchesotti
- Auditory Language Group, Department of Basic Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 1202
| | - Nada Kojovic
- Autism Brain & Behavior Lab, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 1202
| | - Holger Franz Sperdin
- Autism Brain & Behavior Lab, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 1202
| | - Tonia A Rihs
- Functional Brain Mapping Laboratory, Department of Basic Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 1202
| | - Marie Schaer
- Autism Brain & Behavior Lab, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 1202
| | - Anne-Lise Giraud
- Auditory Language Group, Department of Basic Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 1202
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Hearing Institute, Paris, France, 75012
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Fan T, Zhang L, Liu J, Niu Y, Hong T, Zhang W, Shu H, Zhao J. Phonemic mismatch negativity mediates the association between phoneme awareness and character reading ability in young Chinese children. Neuropsychologia 2023; 188:108624. [PMID: 37328027 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108624] [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: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Poor phonological awareness is associated with greater risk for reading disability. The underlying neural mechanism of such association may lie in the brain processing of phonological information. Lower amplitude of auditory mismatch negativity (MMN) has been associated with poor phonological awareness and with the presence of reading disability. The current study recorded auditory MMN to phoneme and lexical tone contrast with odd-ball paradigm and examined whether auditory MMN mediated the associations between phonological awareness and character reading ability through a three-year longitudinal study in 78 native Mandarin-speaking kindergarten children. Hierarchical linear regression and mediation analyses showed that the effect of phoneme awareness on the character reading ability was mediated by the phonemic MMN in young Chinese children. Findings underscore the key role of phonemic MMN as the underlying neurodevelopmental mechanism linking phoneme awareness and reading ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengwen Fan
- School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University and Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Neuroscience, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Liming Zhang
- School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University and Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Neuroscience, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Jianyi Liu
- School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University and Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Neuroscience, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Yanbin Niu
- School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University and Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Neuroscience, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Tian Hong
- School of Humanities, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
| | - Wenfang Zhang
- Affiliated Kindergarten of Shaanxi Normal University, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Hua Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Jingjing Zhao
- School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University and Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Neuroscience, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China.
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8
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Haugg A, Frei N, Menghini M, Stutz F, Steinegger S, Röthlisberger M, Brem S. Self-regulation of visual word form area activation with real-time fMRI neurofeedback. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9195. [PMID: 37280217 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35932-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Visual Word Form Area (VWFA) is a key region of the brain's reading network and its activation has been shown to be strongly associated with reading skills. Here, for the first time, we investigated whether voluntary regulation of VWFA activation is feasible using real-time fMRI neurofeedback. 40 adults with typical reading skills were instructed to either upregulate (UP group, N = 20) or downregulate (DOWN group, N = 20) their own VWFA activation during six neurofeedback training runs. The VWFA target region was individually defined based on a functional localizer task. Before and after training, also regulation runs without feedback ("no-feedback runs") were performed. When comparing the two groups, we found stronger activation across the reading network for the UP than the DOWN group. Further, activation in the VWFA was significantly stronger in the UP group than the DOWN group. Crucially, we observed a significant interaction of group and time (pre, post) for the no-feedback runs: The two groups did not differ significantly in their VWFA activation before neurofeedback training, but the UP group showed significantly stronger activation than the DOWN group after neurofeedback training. Our results indicate that upregulation of VWFA activation is feasible and that, once learned, successful upregulation can even be performed in the absence of feedback. These results are a crucial first step toward the development of a potential therapeutic support to improve reading skills in individuals with reading impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie Haugg
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Nada Frei
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Milena Menghini
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Felizia Stutz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sara Steinegger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martina Röthlisberger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Brem
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Giroud J, Lerousseau JP, Pellegrino F, Morillon B. The channel capacity of multilevel linguistic features constrains speech comprehension. Cognition 2023; 232:105345. [PMID: 36462227 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2022.105345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Humans are expert at processing speech but how this feat is accomplished remains a major question in cognitive neuroscience. Capitalizing on the concept of channel capacity, we developed a unified measurement framework to investigate the respective influence of seven acoustic and linguistic features on speech comprehension, encompassing acoustic, sub-lexical, lexical and supra-lexical levels of description. We show that comprehension is independently impacted by all these features, but at varying degrees and with a clear dominance of the syllabic rate. Comparing comprehension of French words and sentences further reveals that when supra-lexical contextual information is present, the impact of all other features is dramatically reduced. Finally, we estimated the channel capacity associated with each linguistic feature and compared them with their generic distribution in natural speech. Our data reveal that while acoustic modulation, syllabic and phonemic rates unfold respectively at 5, 5, and 12 Hz in natural speech, they are associated with independent processing bottlenecks whose channel capacity are of 15, 15 and 35 Hz, respectively, as suggested by neurophysiological theories. They moreover point towards supra-lexical contextual information as the feature limiting the flow of natural speech. Overall, this study reveals how multilevel linguistic features constrain speech comprehension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Giroud
- Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France.
| | | | - François Pellegrino
- Laboratoire Dynamique du Langage UMR 5596, CNRS, University of Lyon, 14 Avenue Berthelot, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Benjamin Morillon
- Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France
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10
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Previously Marzena Szkodo MOR, Micai M, Caruso A, Fulceri F, Fazio M, Scattoni ML. Technologies to support the diagnosis and/or treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 145:105021. [PMID: 36581169 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.105021] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a great interest in utilizing technology in mental health research. The rapid technological development has encouraged researchers to apply technology as a part of a diagnostic process or treatment of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs). With the large number of studies being published comes an urgent need to inform clinicians and researchers about the latest advances in this field. Here, we methodically explore and summarize findings from studies published between August 2019 and February 2022. A search strategy led to the identification of 4108 records from PubMed and APA PsycInfo databases. 221 quantitative studies were included, covering a wide range of technologies used for diagnosis and/or treatment of NDDs, with the biggest focus on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The most popular technologies included machine learning, functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalogram, magnetic resonance imaging, and neurofeedback. The results of the review indicate that technology-based diagnosis and intervention for NDD population is promising. However, given a high risk of bias of many studies, more high-quality research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martina Micai
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Angela Caruso
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Fulceri
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Fazio
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics and Earth Sciences (MIFT), University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
| | - Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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11
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Krause MR, Vieira PG, Pack CC. Transcranial electrical stimulation: How can a simple conductor orchestrate complex brain activity? PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3001973. [PMID: 36716309 PMCID: PMC9886255 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is one of the oldest and yet least understood forms of brain stimulation. The idea that a weak electrical stimulus, applied outside the head, can meaningfully affect neural activity is often regarded as mysterious. Here, we argue that the direct effects of tES are not so mysterious: Extensive data from a wide range of model systems shows it has appreciable effects on the activity of individual neurons. Instead, the real mysteries are how tES interacts with the brain's own activity and how these dynamics can be controlled to produce desirable therapeutic effects. These are challenging problems, akin to repairing a complex machine while it is running, but they are not unique to tES or even neuroscience. We suggest that models of coupled oscillators, a common tool for studying interactions in other fields, may provide valuable insights. By combining these tools with our growing, interdisciplinary knowledge of brain dynamics, we are now in a good position to make progress in this area and meet the high demand for effective neuromodulation in neuroscience and psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Krause
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail: (MRK); (PGV); (CCP)
| | - Pedro G. Vieira
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail: (MRK); (PGV); (CCP)
| | - Christopher C. Pack
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail: (MRK); (PGV); (CCP)
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12
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Lee TL, Lee H, Kang N. A meta-analysis showing improved cognitive performance in healthy young adults with transcranial alternating current stimulation. NPJ SCIENCE OF LEARNING 2023; 8:1. [PMID: 36593247 PMCID: PMC9807644 DOI: 10.1038/s41539-022-00152-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation used for improving cognitive functions via delivering weak electrical stimulation with a certain frequency. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of tACS protocols on cognitive functions in healthy young adults. We identified 56 qualified studies that compared cognitive functions between tACS and sham control groups, as indicated by cognitive performances and cognition-related reaction time. Moderator variable analyses specified effect size according to (a) timing of tACS, (b) frequency band of simulation, (c) targeted brain region, and (b) cognitive domain, respectively. Random-effects model meta-analysis revealed small positive effects of tACS protocols on cognitive performances. The moderator variable analyses found significant effects for online-tACS with theta frequency band, online-tACS with gamma frequency band, and offline-tACS with theta frequency band. Moreover, cognitive performances were improved in online- and offline-tACS with theta frequency band on either prefrontal and posterior parietal cortical regions, and further both online- and offline-tACS with theta frequency band enhanced executive function. Online-tACS with gamma frequency band on posterior parietal cortex was effective for improving cognitive performances, and the cognitive improvements appeared in executive function and perceptual-motor function. These findings suggested that tACS protocols with specific timing and frequency band may effectively improve cognitive performances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Lee Lee
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea
- Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Hanall Lee
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea
- Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Nyeonju Kang
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
- Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
- Division of Sport Science & Sport Science Institute, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
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13
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Peter V, Goswami U, Burnham D, Kalashnikova M. Impaired neural entrainment to low frequency amplitude modulations in English-speaking children with dyslexia or dyslexia and DLD. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2023; 236:105217. [PMID: 36529116 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2022.105217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Neural synchronization to amplitude-modulated noise at three frequencies (2 Hz, 5 Hz, 8 Hz) thought to be important for syllable perception was investigated in English-speaking school-aged children. The theoretically-important delta-band (∼2Hz, stressed syllable level) was included along with two syllable-level rates. The auditory steady state response (ASSR) was recorded using EEG in 36 7-to-12-year-old children. Half of the sample had either dyslexia or dyslexia and DLD (developmental language disorder). In comparison to typically-developing children, children with dyslexia or with dyslexia and DLD showed reduced ASSRs for 2 Hz stimulation but similar ASSRs at 5 Hz and 8 Hz. These novel data for English ASSRs converge with prior data suggesting that children with dyslexia have atypical synchrony between brain oscillations and incoming auditory stimulation at ∼ 2 Hz, the rate of stressed syllable production across languages. This atypical synchronization likely impairs speech processing, phonological processing, and possibly syntactic processing, as predicted by Temporal Sampling theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varghese Peter
- MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Australia; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
| | - Usha Goswami
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Denis Burnham
- MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Australia
| | - Marina Kalashnikova
- MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Australia; BCBL. Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
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14
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Rahimi V, Mohammadkhani G, Alaghband Rad J, Mousavi SZ, Khalili ME. Modulation of auditory temporal processing, speech in noise perception, auditory-verbal memory, and reading efficiency by anodal tDCS in children with dyslexia. Neuropsychologia 2022; 177:108427. [PMID: 36410540 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is prevalent in children. It is estimated that 30-50% of individuals diagnosed with dyslexia also manifest an auditory perceptual deficit characteristic of auditory processing disorder (APD). Some studies suggest that defects in basic auditory processing can lead to phonological defects as the most prominent cause of dyslexia. Thus, in some cases, there may be interrelationships between dyslexia and some of the aspects of central auditory processing. In recent years, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used as a safe method for the modulation of central auditory processing aspects in healthy adults and reading skills in children with dyslexia. Therefore, the objectives of our study were to investigate the effect of tDCS on the modulation of different aspects of central auditory processing, aspects of reading, and the relationship between these two domains in dyslexic children with APD. A within-subjects design was employed to investigate the effect of two electrode arrays (the anode on the left STG (AC)/cathode on the right shoulder and anode on the left STG/cathode on the right STG) on auditory temporal processing; speech-in-noise perception, short-term auditory memory; and high-frequency word, low-frequency word, pseudoword, and text reading. The results of this clinical trial showed the modulation of the studied variables in central auditory processing and the accuracy and speed of reading variables compared to the control and sham statuses in both electrode arrays. Our results also showed that the improvement of the accuracy and speed of text reading, as well as the accuracy of pseudoword reading were related to the improvement of speech in noise perception and temporal processing. The results of this research can be effective in clarifying the basis of the neurobiology of dyslexia and, in particular, the hypothesis of the role of basic auditory processing and subsequently the role of the auditory cortex in dyslexia. These results might provide a framework to facilitate behavioral rehabilitation in dyslexic children with APD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vida Rahimi
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghassem Mohammadkhani
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Javad Alaghband Rad
- Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyedeh Zohre Mousavi
- Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ehsan Khalili
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Chen X, Shi X, Wu Y, Zhou Z, Chen S, Han Y, Shan C. Gamma oscillations and application of 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation to improve brain function. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2811. [PMID: 36374520 PMCID: PMC9759142 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Audiovisual stimulation, such as auditory stimulation, light stimulation, and audiovisual combined stimulation, as a non-invasive stimulation, which can induce gamma oscillation, has received increased attention in recent years, and it has been preliminarily applied in the clinical rehabilitation of brain dysfunctions, such as cognitive, language, motor, mood, and sleep dysfunctions. However, the exact mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation remains unclear; the clinical applications of 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation in brain dysfunctions rehabilitation still need further research. OBJECTIVE In order to provide new insights into brain dysfunction rehabilitation, this review begins with a discussion of the mechanism underlying 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation, followed by a brief evaluation of its clinical application in the rehabilitation of brain dysfunctions. RESULTS Currently, 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation was demonstrated to affect synaptic plasticity and modify the connection status of related brain networks in animal experiments and clinical trials. Although its promising efficacy has been shown in the treatment of cognitive, mood, and sleep impairment, research studies into its application in language and motor dysfunctions are still ongoing. CONCLUSIONS Although 40-Hz audiovisual stimulation seems to be effective in treating cognitive, mood, and sleep disorders, its role in language and motor dysfunctions has yet to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixi Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolong Shi
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuwei Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiqing Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Songmei Chen
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai No.3 Rehabilitation Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Han
- Department of Neurology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunlei Shan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Engineering Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intelligent Rehabilitation, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
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16
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Salehinejad MA, Ghanavati E, Glinski B, Hallajian AH, Azarkolah A. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials on efficacy and safety of transcranial direct current stimulation in major neurodevelopmental disorders: ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2724. [PMID: 35938945 PMCID: PMC9480913 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Among the target groups in child and adolescent psychiatry, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been more applied in neurodevelopmental disorders specifically, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and dyslexia. This systematic review aims to provide the latest update on published randomized-controlled trials applying tDCS in these disorders for evaluating its efficacy and safety. METHODS Based on a pre-registered protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022321430) and using the PRISMA approach, a literature search identified 35 randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of tDCS on children and adolescents with ADHD (n = 17), ASD (n = 11), and dyslexia (n = 7). RESULTS In ADHD, prefrontal anodal tDCS is reported more effective compared to stimulation of the right inferior frontal gyrus. Similarly in ASD, prefrontal anodal tDCS was found effective for improving behavioral problems. In dyslexia, stimulating temporoparietal regions was the most common and effective protocol. In ASD and dyslexia, all tDCS studies found an improvement in at least one of the outcome variables while 64.7% of studies (11 of 17) in ADHD found a similar effect. About 88% of all tDCS studies with a multi-session design in 3 disorders (16 of 18) reported a significant improvement in one or all outcome variables after the intervention. Randomized, double-blind, controlled trials consisted of around 70.5%, 36.3%, and 57.1% of tDCS studies in ADHD, ASD, and dyslexia, respectively. tDCS was found safe with no reported serious side effects in 6587 sessions conducted on 745 children and adolescents across 35 studies. CONCLUSION tDCS was found safe and partially effective. For evaluation of clinical utility, larger randomized controlled trials with a double-blind design and follow-up measurements are required. Titration studies that systematically evaluate different stimulation intensities, duration, and electrode placement are lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ali Salehinejad
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Elham Ghanavati
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Benedikt Glinski
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Anita Azarkolah
- Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Atieh Clinical Neuroscience Center, Tehran, Iran
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17
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Egashira Y, Kaga Y, Gunji A, Kita Y, Kimura M, Hironaga N, Takeichi H, Hayashi S, Kaneko Y, Takahashi H, Hanakawa T, Okada T, Inagaki M. Detection of deviance in Japanese kanji compound words. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:913945. [PMID: 36046210 PMCID: PMC9421146 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.913945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reading fluency is based on the automatic visual recognition of words. As a manifestation of the automatic processing of words, an automatic deviance detection of visual word stimuli can be observed in the early stages of visual recognition. To clarify whether this phenomenon occurs with Japanese kanji compounds—since their lexicality is related to semantic association—we investigated the brain response by utilizing three types of deviants: differences in font type, lexically correct or incorrect Japanese kanji compound words and pseudo-kanji characters modified from correct and incorrect compounds. We employed magnetoencephalography (MEG) to evaluate the spatiotemporal profiles of the related brain regions. The study included 22 adult native Japanese speakers (16 females). The abovementioned three kinds of stimuli containing 20% deviants were presented during the MEG measurement. Activity in the occipital pole region of the brain was observed upon the detection of font-type deviance within 250 ms of stimulus onset. Although no significant activity upon detecting lexically correct/incorrect kanji compounds or pseudo-kanji character deviations was observed, the activity in the posterior transverse region of the collateral sulcus (pCoS)—which is a fusiform neighboring area—was larger when detecting lexically correct kanji compounds than when detecting pseudo-kanji characters. Taken together, these results support the notion that the automatic detection of deviance in kanji compounds may be limited to a low-level feature, such as the stimulus stroke thickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Egashira
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
- *Correspondence: Yuka Egashira,
| | - Yoshimi Kaga
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
| | - Atsuko Gunji
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
- College of Education, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan
- Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
| | - Yosuke Kita
- Cognitive Brain Research Unit (CBRU), Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Keio University, Minato-ku, Japan
| | - Motohiro Kimura
- Department of Information Technology and Human Factors, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Naruhito Hironaga
- Brain Center, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroshige Takeichi
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
- Open Systems Information Science Team, Advanced Data Science Project, RIKEN Information R&D and Strategy Headquarters (R-IH), RIKEN, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Sayuri Hayashi
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
| | - Yuu Kaneko
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Takahashi
- Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku-shi, Japan
| | - Takashi Hanakawa
- Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
- Integrated Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Okada
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
| | - Masumi Inagaki
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Tottori Prefectural Rehabilitation Center, Tottori, Japan
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18
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No effects of prefrontal multichannel tACS at individual alpha frequency on phonological decisions. Clin Neurophysiol 2022; 142:96-108. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.07.494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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19
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10-Hz tACS over the prefrontal cortex improves phonemic fluency in healthy individuals. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8305. [PMID: 35585105 PMCID: PMC9117193 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11961-8] [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: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Verbal fluency is an important indicator of human verbal ability. Methods to improve fluency is an interesting issue necessitating investigation. To do this, the current study required participants to randomly receive transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at 10 Hz, 40 Hz (control frequency), and sham stimulation over the prefrontal cortex before a phonemic fluency task. It was found that 10-Hz tACS significantly improved phonemic fluency relative to sham stimulation. This result demonstrates the modulatory effect of 10-Hz tACS on language ability.
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20
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Krause MR, Vieira PG, Thivierge JP, Pack CC. Brain stimulation competes with ongoing oscillations for control of spike timing in the primate brain. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001650. [PMID: 35613140 PMCID: PMC9132296 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a popular method for modulating brain activity noninvasively. In particular, tACS is often used as a targeted intervention that enhances a neural oscillation at a specific frequency to affect a particular behavior. However, these interventions often yield highly variable results. Here, we provide a potential explanation for this variability: tACS competes with the brain's ongoing oscillations. Using neural recordings from alert nonhuman primates, we find that when neural firing is independent of ongoing brain oscillations, tACS readily entrains spiking activity, but when neurons are strongly entrained to ongoing oscillations, tACS often causes a decrease in entrainment instead. Consequently, tACS can yield categorically different results on neural activity, even when the stimulation protocol is fixed. Mathematical analysis suggests that this competition is likely to occur under many experimental conditions. Attempting to impose an external rhythm on the brain may therefore often yield precisely the opposite effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Krause
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pedro G. Vieira
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Thivierge
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Brain and Mind Research Institute University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher C. Pack
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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21
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Mandke K, Flanagan S, Macfarlane A, Gabrielczyk F, Wilson A, Gross J, Goswami U. Neural sampling of the speech signal at different timescales by children with dyslexia. Neuroimage 2022; 253:119077. [PMID: 35278708 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Phonological difficulties characterize individuals with dyslexia across languages. Currently debated is whether these difficulties arise from atypical neural sampling of (or entrainment to) auditory information in speech at slow rates (<10 Hz, related to speech rhythm), faster rates, or neither. MEG studies with adults suggest that atypical sampling in dyslexia affects faster modulations in the neurophysiological gamma band, related to phoneme-level representation. However, dyslexic adults have had years of reduced experience in converting graphemes to phonemes, which could itself cause atypical gamma-band activity. The present study was designed to identify specific linguistic timescales at which English children with dyslexia may show atypical entrainment. Adopting a developmental focus, we hypothesized that children with dyslexia would show atypical entrainment to the prosodic and syllable-level information that is exaggerated in infant-directed speech and carried primarily by amplitude modulations <10 Hz. MEG was recorded in a naturalistic story-listening paradigm. The modulation bands related to different types of linguistic information were derived directly from the speech materials, and lagged coherence at multiple temporal rates spanning 0.9-40 Hz was computed. Group differences in lagged speech-brain coherence between children with dyslexia and control children were most marked in neurophysiological bands corresponding to stress and syllable-level information (<5 Hz in our materials), and phoneme-level information (12-40 Hz). Functional connectivity analyses showed network differences between groups in both hemispheres, with dyslexic children showing significantly reduced global network efficiency. Global network efficiency correlated with dyslexic children's oral language development and with control children's reading development. These developmental data suggest that dyslexia is characterized by atypical neural sampling of auditory information at slower rates. They also throw new light on the nature of the gamma band temporal sampling differences reported in MEG dyslexia studies with adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanad Mandke
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom.
| | - Sheila Flanagan
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Annabel Macfarlane
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Gabrielczyk
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Wilson
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Joachim Gross
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignal Analysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Usha Goswami
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
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22
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Preisig BC, Hervais-Adelman A. The Predictive Value of Individual Electric Field Modeling for Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Induced Brain Modulation. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:818703. [PMID: 35273479 PMCID: PMC8901488 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.818703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is considerable individual variability in the reported effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation. This variability has often been ascribed to differences in the neuroanatomy and resulting differences in the induced electric field inside the brain. In this study, we addressed the question whether individual differences in the induced electric field can predict the neurophysiological and behavioral consequences of gamma band tACS. In a within-subject experiment, bi-hemispheric gamma band tACS and sham stimulation was applied in alternating blocks to the participants' superior temporal lobe, while task-evoked auditory brain activity was measured with concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a dichotic listening task. Gamma tACS was applied with different interhemispheric phase lags. In a recent study, we could show that anti-phase tACS (180° interhemispheric phase lag), but not in-phase tACS (0° interhemispheric phase lag), selectively modulates interhemispheric brain connectivity. Using a T1 structural image of each participant's brain, an individual simulation of the induced electric field was computed. From these simulations, we derived two predictor variables: maximal strength (average of the 10,000 voxels with largest electric field values) and precision of the electric field (spatial correlation between the electric field and the task evoked brain activity during sham stimulation). We found considerable variability in the individual strength and precision of the electric fields. Importantly, the strength of the electric field over the right hemisphere predicted individual differences of tACS induced brain connectivity changes. Moreover, we found in both hemispheres a statistical trend for the effect of electric field strength on tACS induced BOLD signal changes. In contrast, the precision of the electric field did not predict any neurophysiological measure. Further, neither strength, nor precision predicted interhemispheric integration. In conclusion, we found evidence for the dose-response relationship between individual differences in electric fields and tACS induced activity and connectivity changes in concurrent fMRI. However, the fact that this relationship was stronger in the right hemisphere suggests that the relationship between the electric field parameters, neurophysiology, and behavior may be more complex for bi-hemispheric tACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basil C. Preisig
- Department of Psychology, Neurolinguistics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Donders Institute for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexis Hervais-Adelman
- Department of Psychology, Neurolinguistics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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23
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Turker S, Hartwigsen G. The use of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques to improve reading difficulties in dyslexia: A systematic review. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:1157-1173. [PMID: 34716977 PMCID: PMC8764483 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) allows to actively and noninvasively modulate brain function. Aside from inhibiting specific processes, NIBS may also enhance cognitive functions, which might be used for the prevention and intervention of learning disabilities such as dyslexia. However, despite the growing interest in modulating learning abilities, a comprehensive, up-to-date review synthesizing NIBS studies with dyslexics is missing. Here, we fill this gap and elucidate the potential of NIBS as treatment option in dyslexia. The findings of the 15 included studies suggest that repeated sessions of reading training combined with different NIBS protocols may induce long-lasting improvements of reading performance in child and adult dyslexics, opening promising avenues for future research. In particular, the "classical" reading areas seem to be most successfully modulated through NIBS, and facilitatory protocols can improve various reading-related subprocesses. Moreover, we emphasize the need to further explore the potential to modulate auditory cortex function as a preintervention and intervention approach for affected children, for example, to avoid the development of auditory and phonological difficulties at the core of dyslexia. Finally, we outline how future studies may increase our understanding of the neurobiological basis of NIBS-induced improvements in dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Turker
- Lise Meitner Research Group Cognition and PlasticityMax Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzigGermany
- Alexander von Humboldt FoundationBerlinGermany
| | - Gesa Hartwigsen
- Lise Meitner Research Group Cognition and PlasticityMax Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzigGermany
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24
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Amthor FR, Strang CE. Effects of tACS-Like Electrical Stimulation on Correlated Firing of Retinal Ganglion Cells: Part III. Eye Brain 2022; 14:1-15. [PMID: 35046742 PMCID: PMC8763268 DOI: 10.2147/eb.s313161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a stimulation protocol used for learning enhancement and mitigation of cognitive dysfunction. Correlated firing has been postulated to be a meta-code that links neuronal spike responses associated with a single entity and may be an important component of high-level cognitive functions. Thus, changes in the covariance firing structure of CNS neurons such as retinal ganglion cells are one potential mechanism by which tACS can exert its effects. Materials and Methods We used microelectrode arrays to record light-evoked spike responses of 24 retinal ganglion cells in 7 rabbit eyecup preparations and analyzed the covariance between 30 pairs of neighboring retinal ganglion cells before, during, and after 10-minute application of alternating currents of 1 microampere at 10 or 20 Hz. Results tACS stimulation significantly changed the covariance structure of correlated firing in 60% of simultaneously recorded retinal ganglion cells. Application of tACS in the retinal preparation increased cross-covariance in 26% of cell pairs, an effect usually associated with increased light-evoked ganglion cell firing. tACS associated decreases in cross-covariance occurred in 37% of cell pairs. Increased covariance was more common in response to the first, 10-minute application of tACS in isolated retina preparation. Changes in covariance were rare after repeated stimulation, and more likely to result in decreased covariance. Conclusion Retinal ganglion cell correlated firing is modulated by 1 microampere tACS currents showing that electrical stimulation can significantly and persistently change the structure of the correlated firing of simultaneously recorded rabbit retinal ganglion cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franklin R Amthor
- Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Christianne E Strang
- Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
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25
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Proix T, Delgado Saa J, Christen A, Martin S, Pasley BN, Knight RT, Tian X, Poeppel D, Doyle WK, Devinsky O, Arnal LH, Mégevand P, Giraud AL. Imagined speech can be decoded from low- and cross-frequency intracranial EEG features. Nat Commun 2022; 13:48. [PMID: 35013268 PMCID: PMC8748882 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27725-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Reconstructing intended speech from neural activity using brain-computer interfaces holds great promises for people with severe speech production deficits. While decoding overt speech has progressed, decoding imagined speech has met limited success, mainly because the associated neural signals are weak and variable compared to overt speech, hence difficult to decode by learning algorithms. We obtained three electrocorticography datasets from 13 patients, with electrodes implanted for epilepsy evaluation, who performed overt and imagined speech production tasks. Based on recent theories of speech neural processing, we extracted consistent and specific neural features usable for future brain computer interfaces, and assessed their performance to discriminate speech items in articulatory, phonetic, and vocalic representation spaces. While high-frequency activity provided the best signal for overt speech, both low- and higher-frequency power and local cross-frequency contributed to imagined speech decoding, in particular in phonetic and vocalic, i.e. perceptual, spaces. These findings show that low-frequency power and cross-frequency dynamics contain key information for imagined speech decoding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothée Proix
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Jaime Delgado Saa
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andy Christen
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Martin
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Brian N Pasley
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Robert T Knight
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Xing Tian
- Division of Arts and Sciences, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - David Poeppel
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Werner K Doyle
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Orrin Devinsky
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Luc H Arnal
- Institut de l'Audition, Institut Pasteur, INSERM, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Mégevand
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Neurology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Lise Giraud
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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26
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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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27
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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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28
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Amthor FR, Strang CE. Effects of tACS-Like Electrical Stimulation on On-Center Retinal Ganglion Cells: Part I. Eye Brain 2021; 13:175-192. [PMID: 34285622 PMCID: PMC8285569 DOI: 10.2147/eb.s312402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Electrical stimulation of the human central nervous system via surface electrodes has been used for both learning enhancement and the amelioration of neurodegenerative or psychiatric disorders. However, data are sparse on how such electrical stimulation affects neural circuits at the cellular level. This study assessed the effects of tACS-like currents at 10 Hz on On-center retinal ganglion cell responsiveness, using the rabbit retina eyecup preparation as a model for central nervous system effects. Methods We made extracellular recordings of light-evoked spike responses in different classes of On-center retinal ganglion cells before, during and after brief applications of 1 microampere alternating currents using single electrodes and microelectrode arrays. Results tACS-like currents (tACS) of 1 microampere produced effects on On-center ganglion cell response profiles immediately after initiation or cessation of tACS, without driving phase-locked firing in the absence of light stimuli. tACS affected the initial transient responses to light stimulation for all cells, sustained response components (if any) more strongly for sustained cells, and the center-surround balance more strongly for transient cells. Conclusion tACS sculpted light-evoked responses that lasted for one or more hours after cessation of current without, itself, directly inducing significant firing changes. Functionally, tACS effects could result in effects on contrast thresholds for both broad classes of cells, but because tACs differentially affects the center-surround balance of transient On-center cells, there may be greater effects on the spatial resolution and gain. The isolated retina appears to be a useful model to understand tACS actions at the neuronal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franklin R Amthor
- Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1170, USA
| | - Christianne E Strang
- Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1170, USA
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29
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van der Plas M, Hanslmayr S. Entraining neurons via noninvasive electric stimulation improves cognition. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000931. [PMID: 33091011 PMCID: PMC7654821 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) is a method that injects rhythmic currents into the human brain via electrodes attached to the scalp of a participant. This technique allows researchers to control naturally occurring brain rhythms and study their causal relevance for cognition. Recent findings, however, cast doubts on the effectiveness of tACS to stimulate the brain and its mode of action. Two new studies by Vieira and colleagues and Marchesotti and colleagues reported in the current issue report promising new results in showing that tACS can entrain single neuron activity and improve reading abilities in dyslexic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mircea van der Plas
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute for Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Hanslmayr
- Institute for Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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