Toward integrative approaches to study the causal role of neural oscillations via transcranial electrical stimulation.

Beliaeva, Valeriia; Savvateev, Iurii; Zerbi, Valerio; Polania, Rafael

Diverse transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) techniques have recently been developed to elucidate the role of neural oscillations, but critically, it remains questionable whether neural entrainment genuinely occurs and is causally related to the resulting behavior. Here, we provide a perspective on an emerging integrative research program across systems, species, theoretical and experimental frameworks to elucidate the potential of tES to induce neural entrainment. We argue that such an integrative agenda is a requirement to establish tES as a tool to test the causal role of neural oscillations and highlight critical issues that should be considered when adopting a translational approach. Transcranial electrical stimulation techniques may enable exploration of the role of neural oscillations in the brain. Here, the authors provide a perspective on its potential across systems, species, theoretical and experimental scales.

ELECTRIC stimulation; OSCILLATIONS

Nature Communications, 2021, Vol 12, Issue 1, p1

2041-1723

Academic Journal

10.1038/s41467-021-22468-7