Physiology-inspired bifocal fronto-parietal tACS for working memory enhancement
Monika Pupíková,
Pablo Maceira-Elvira,
Sylvain Harquel,
Patrik Šimko,
Traian Popa,
Martin Gajdoš,
Martin Lamoš,
Umberto Nencha,
Kristína Mitterová,
Adam Šimo,
Friedhelm C. Hummel,
Irena Rektorová
Affiliations
Monika Pupíková
Applied Neuroscience Research Group, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Pablo Maceira-Elvira
Neuro-X Institute (INX), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Chemin des Mines 9, 1202, CH, Geneva, Switzerland; Neuro-X Institute (INX), EPFL Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation Sion, Switzerland
Sylvain Harquel
Neuro-X Institute (INX), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Chemin des Mines 9, 1202, CH, Geneva, Switzerland
Patrik Šimko
Applied Neuroscience Research Group, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Traian Popa
Neuro-X Institute (INX), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Chemin des Mines 9, 1202, CH, Geneva, Switzerland; Neuro-X Institute (INX), EPFL Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation Sion, Switzerland
Martin Gajdoš
International Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and St. Anne's University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Brain and Mind Research, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; First Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and St. Anne's University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Martin Lamoš
International Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and St. Anne's University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Brain and Mind Research, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; First Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and St. Anne's University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Umberto Nencha
Neuro-X Institute (INX), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Chemin des Mines 9, 1202, CH, Geneva, Switzerland; Clinical Neuroscience, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
Kristína Mitterová
Applied Neuroscience Research Group, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and St. Anne's University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Adam Šimo
First Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and St. Anne's University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Friedhelm C. Hummel
Neuro-X Institute (INX), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Chemin des Mines 9, 1202, CH, Geneva, Switzerland; Neuro-X Institute (INX), EPFL Valais, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation Sion, Switzerland; Clinical Neuroscience, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland; Corresponding author. Clinical Neuroengineering, Neuro-X Institute (INX), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Chemin des Mines 9, 1202, CH, Geneva, Switzerland.
Irena Rektorová
Applied Neuroscience Research Group, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and St. Anne's University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; First Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and St. Anne's University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Aging populations face significant cognitive challenges, particularly in working memory (WM). Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) offer promising avenues for cognitive enhancement, especially when inspired by brain physiology. This study (NCT04986787) explores the effect of multifocal tACS on WM performance in healthy older adults, focusing on fronto-parietal network modulation. Individualized physiology-inspired tACS applied to the fronto-parietal network was investigated in two blinded cross-over experiments. The first experiment involved monofocal/bifocal theta-tACS to the fronto-parietal network, while in the second experiment cross-frequency theta-gamma interactions between these regions were explored. Participants have done online WM tasks under the stimulation conditions. Network connectivity was assessed via rs-fMRI and multichannel electroencephalography. Prefrontal monofocal theta tACS modestly improved WM accuracy over sham (d = 0.30). Fronto-parietal stimulation enhanced WM task processing speed, with the strongest effects for bifocal in-phase theta tACS (d = 0.41). Cross-frequency stimulations modestly boosted processing speed with or without impairing task accuracy depending on the stimulation protocol. This research adds to the understanding of physiology-inspired brain stimulation for cognitive enhancement in older subjects.
