Individual alpha frequency tACS reduces static functional connectivity across the default mode network
IntroductionResearch on the influence of transcranial alternating current stimulation over alpha functional connectivity (FC) is scarce, even when it poses as a potential treatment for various diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of individual alpha frequency tACS (IAF-tACS) on FC w...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| author | Martín Carrasco-Gómez Martín Carrasco-Gómez Martín Carrasco-Gómez Alejandra García-Colomo Alejandra García-Colomo Jesús Cabrera-Álvarez Jesús Cabrera-Álvarez Alberto del Cerro-León Alberto del Cerro-León Carlos J. Gómez-Ariza Andrés Santos Andrés Santos Fernando Maestú Fernando Maestú Fernando Maestú |
| author_facet | Martín Carrasco-Gómez Martín Carrasco-Gómez Martín Carrasco-Gómez Alejandra García-Colomo Alejandra García-Colomo Jesús Cabrera-Álvarez Jesús Cabrera-Álvarez Alberto del Cerro-León Alberto del Cerro-León Carlos J. Gómez-Ariza Andrés Santos Andrés Santos Fernando Maestú Fernando Maestú Fernando Maestú |
| author_sort | Martín Carrasco-Gómez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionResearch on the influence of transcranial alternating current stimulation over alpha functional connectivity (FC) is scarce, even when it poses as a potential treatment for various diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of individual alpha frequency tACS (IAF-tACS) on FC within the default mode network (DMN) in healthy individuals, particularly following the triple network model.Materials and methods27 healthy participants were recruited, who underwent a 20-min IAF-tACS session over parieto-occipital areas and three magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings: two pre-stimulation and one post-stimulation. Participants were randomly assigned to either the stimulation or sham group. Both dynamic FC (dFC) and static FC (sFC) were evaluated through the leakage corrected amplitude envelope correlation (AEC-c). Statistical analyses compared both Pre-Post FC ratio between groups through ratio t-tests and intragroup FC changes through repeated measures t-tests, with FDR correction applied to account for multiple comparisons. An additional analysis simulated the influence of the cortical folding on the effect of tACS over FC.ResultsIAF-tACS significantly decreased sFC in intra- and inter-DMN links in the stimulation group compared to the sham group, with a special influence over antero-posterior links between hubs of the DMN. Negative correlations were found between AEC-c sFC changes and power alterations in posterior DMN areas, suggesting a complex interaction between cortical folding and electric field direction. On the other hand, dFC increased in both sham and stimulation groups, and no between-group differences were found.ConclusionAgainst our initial hypothesis, IAF-tACS reduced sFC in the DMN, possibly due to phase disparities introduced by cortical gyrification. These findings suggest that tACS might modulate FC in a more complex manner than previously thought, highlighting the need for further research into the personalized application of neuromodulation techniques, as well as its potential therapeutic implications for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-85d1fa6bdbac4be3b4321a7ca6199e0d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-85d1fa6bdbac4be3b4321a7ca6199e0d2025-08-20T01:49:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612025-05-011910.3389/fnhum.2025.15343211534321Individual alpha frequency tACS reduces static functional connectivity across the default mode networkMartín Carrasco-Gómez0Martín Carrasco-Gómez1Martín Carrasco-Gómez2Alejandra García-Colomo3Alejandra García-Colomo4Jesús Cabrera-Álvarez5Jesús Cabrera-Álvarez6Alberto del Cerro-León7Alberto del Cerro-León8Carlos J. Gómez-Ariza9Andrés Santos10Andrés Santos11Fernando Maestú12Fernando Maestú13Fernando Maestú14Department of Electronical Engineering, E.T.S. de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, SpainCenter for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainCIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, SpainCenter for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Speech and Language Therapy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainCenter for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Speech and Language Therapy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainCenter for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Speech and Language Therapy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Psychology, University of Jaén, Jaén, SpainDepartment of Electronical Engineering, E.T.S. de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, SpainCIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, SpainCenter for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Speech and Language Therapy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainHealth Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, SpainIntroductionResearch on the influence of transcranial alternating current stimulation over alpha functional connectivity (FC) is scarce, even when it poses as a potential treatment for various diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of individual alpha frequency tACS (IAF-tACS) on FC within the default mode network (DMN) in healthy individuals, particularly following the triple network model.Materials and methods27 healthy participants were recruited, who underwent a 20-min IAF-tACS session over parieto-occipital areas and three magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings: two pre-stimulation and one post-stimulation. Participants were randomly assigned to either the stimulation or sham group. Both dynamic FC (dFC) and static FC (sFC) were evaluated through the leakage corrected amplitude envelope correlation (AEC-c). Statistical analyses compared both Pre-Post FC ratio between groups through ratio t-tests and intragroup FC changes through repeated measures t-tests, with FDR correction applied to account for multiple comparisons. An additional analysis simulated the influence of the cortical folding on the effect of tACS over FC.ResultsIAF-tACS significantly decreased sFC in intra- and inter-DMN links in the stimulation group compared to the sham group, with a special influence over antero-posterior links between hubs of the DMN. Negative correlations were found between AEC-c sFC changes and power alterations in posterior DMN areas, suggesting a complex interaction between cortical folding and electric field direction. On the other hand, dFC increased in both sham and stimulation groups, and no between-group differences were found.ConclusionAgainst our initial hypothesis, IAF-tACS reduced sFC in the DMN, possibly due to phase disparities introduced by cortical gyrification. These findings suggest that tACS might modulate FC in a more complex manner than previously thought, highlighting the need for further research into the personalized application of neuromodulation techniques, as well as its potential therapeutic implications for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1534321/fulltACSfunctional connectivitymagnetoencephalographycortical foldingindividual alpha frequency |
| spellingShingle | Martín Carrasco-Gómez Martín Carrasco-Gómez Martín Carrasco-Gómez Alejandra García-Colomo Alejandra García-Colomo Jesús Cabrera-Álvarez Jesús Cabrera-Álvarez Alberto del Cerro-León Alberto del Cerro-León Carlos J. Gómez-Ariza Andrés Santos Andrés Santos Fernando Maestú Fernando Maestú Fernando Maestú Individual alpha frequency tACS reduces static functional connectivity across the default mode network Frontiers in Human Neuroscience tACS functional connectivity magnetoencephalography cortical folding individual alpha frequency |
| title | Individual alpha frequency tACS reduces static functional connectivity across the default mode network |
| title_full | Individual alpha frequency tACS reduces static functional connectivity across the default mode network |
| title_fullStr | Individual alpha frequency tACS reduces static functional connectivity across the default mode network |
| title_full_unstemmed | Individual alpha frequency tACS reduces static functional connectivity across the default mode network |
| title_short | Individual alpha frequency tACS reduces static functional connectivity across the default mode network |
| title_sort | individual alpha frequency tacs reduces static functional connectivity across the default mode network |
| topic | tACS functional connectivity magnetoencephalography cortical folding individual alpha frequency |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1534321/full |
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