Frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memory
Abstract Evidence implicating theta rhythms in declarative memory encoding and retrieval, together with the notion that both retrieval and consolidation involve memory reinstatement or replay, suggests that post-learning theta rhythm modulation can promote early consolidation of newly formed memorie...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | npj Science of Learning |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-024-00222-0 |
| _version_ | 1797275855210151936 |
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| author | Limor Shtoots Asher Nadler Roni Partouche Dorin Sharir Aryeh Rothstein Liran Shati Daniel A. Levy |
| author_facet | Limor Shtoots Asher Nadler Roni Partouche Dorin Sharir Aryeh Rothstein Liran Shati Daniel A. Levy |
| author_sort | Limor Shtoots |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Evidence implicating theta rhythms in declarative memory encoding and retrieval, together with the notion that both retrieval and consolidation involve memory reinstatement or replay, suggests that post-learning theta rhythm modulation can promote early consolidation of newly formed memories. Building on earlier work employing theta neurofeedback, we examined whether theta-frequency transcranial alternating stimulation (tACS) can engender effective consolidation of newly formed episodic memories, compared with beta frequency stimulation or sham control conditions. We compared midline frontal and posterior parietal theta stimulation montages and examined whether benefits to memory of theta upregulation are attributable to consolidation rather than to retrieval processes by using a washout period to eliminate tACS after-effects between stimulation and memory assessment. Four groups of participants viewed object pictures followed by a free recall test during three study-test cycles. They then engaged in tACS (frontal theta montage/parietal theta montage/frontal beta montage/sham) for a period of 20 min, followed by a 2-h break. Free recall assessments were conducted after the break, 24 h later, and 7 days later. Frontal midline theta-tACS induced significant off-line retrieval gains at all assessment time points relative to all other conditions. This indicates that theta upregulation provides optimal conditions for the consolidation of episodic memory, independent of mental-state strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:20:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7751db5fd72d40538daa80d9301922a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-7936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:20:00Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Science of Learning |
| spelling | doaj.art-7751db5fd72d40538daa80d9301922a82024-03-05T17:44:10ZengNature Portfolionpj Science of Learning2056-79362024-02-01911710.1038/s41539-024-00222-0Frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memoryLimor Shtoots0Asher Nadler1Roni Partouche2Dorin Sharir3Aryeh Rothstein4Liran Shati5Daniel A. Levy6Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityBaruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityBaruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityBaruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityBaruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityBaruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityBaruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityAbstract Evidence implicating theta rhythms in declarative memory encoding and retrieval, together with the notion that both retrieval and consolidation involve memory reinstatement or replay, suggests that post-learning theta rhythm modulation can promote early consolidation of newly formed memories. Building on earlier work employing theta neurofeedback, we examined whether theta-frequency transcranial alternating stimulation (tACS) can engender effective consolidation of newly formed episodic memories, compared with beta frequency stimulation or sham control conditions. We compared midline frontal and posterior parietal theta stimulation montages and examined whether benefits to memory of theta upregulation are attributable to consolidation rather than to retrieval processes by using a washout period to eliminate tACS after-effects between stimulation and memory assessment. Four groups of participants viewed object pictures followed by a free recall test during three study-test cycles. They then engaged in tACS (frontal theta montage/parietal theta montage/frontal beta montage/sham) for a period of 20 min, followed by a 2-h break. Free recall assessments were conducted after the break, 24 h later, and 7 days later. Frontal midline theta-tACS induced significant off-line retrieval gains at all assessment time points relative to all other conditions. This indicates that theta upregulation provides optimal conditions for the consolidation of episodic memory, independent of mental-state strategies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-024-00222-0 |
| spellingShingle | Limor Shtoots Asher Nadler Roni Partouche Dorin Sharir Aryeh Rothstein Liran Shati Daniel A. Levy Frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memory npj Science of Learning |
| title | Frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memory |
| title_full | Frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memory |
| title_fullStr | Frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memory |
| title_short | Frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memory |
| title_sort | frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memory |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-024-00222-0 |
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