Title

Neurodynamic correlates for the cross-frequency coupled transcranial alternating current stimulation during working memory performance.

Authors

Seong-Eun Kim; Hyun-Seok Kim; Youngchul Kwak; Min-Hee Ahn; Kyung Mook Choi; Byoung-Kyong Min

Abstract

Transcranial current stimulation is a neuromodulation technique used to modulate brain oscillations and, in turn, to enhance human cognitive function in a non-invasive manner. This study investigated whether crossfrequency coupled transcranial alternating current stimulation (CFC-tACS) improved working memory performance. Participants in both the tACStreated and sham groups were instructed to perform a modified Sternberg task, where a combination of letters and digits was presented. Thetaphase/high-gamma-amplitude CFC-tACS was administered over electrode F3 and its four surrounding return electrodes (Fp1, Fz, F7, and C3) for 20 min. To identify neurophysiological correlates for the tACS-mediated enhancement of working memory performance, we analyzed EEG alpha and theta power, cross-frequency coupling, functional connectivity, and nodal efficiency during the retention period of the working memory task. We observed significantly reduced reaction times in the tACS-treated group, with suppressed treatment-mediated differences in frontal alpha power and unidirectional Fz-delta-phase to Oz-high-gamma-amplitude modulation during the second half of the retention period when network analyses revealed tACS-mediated fronto-occipital dissociative neurodynamics between alpha suppression and delta/theta enhancement. These findings indicate that tACS modulated top-down control and functional connectivity across the fronto-occipital regions, resulting in improved working memory performance. Our observations are indicative of the feasibility of enhancing cognitive performance by the CFC-formed tACS.

Subjects

TRANSCRANIAL alternating current stimulation; SHORT-term memory; COGNITIVE ability; FUNCTIONAL connectivity

Publication

Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2022, Vol 16, p1

ISSN

1662-4548

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.3389/fnins.2022.1013691