Repetitive Gamma-tACS Improves the Reaction Times of Healthy Young Adults in a Visuospatial Working Memory Task: A Randomized Study
<b>Objective</b>: The aims of the study were to test the short-term and long-term efficacy of repetitive γ-tACS over the left DLPFC to improve visuospatial working memory performance in the spatial capacity delayed response task (SCDRT). <b>Methods</b>: In a single blind plac...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/4/343 |
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| Summary: | <b>Objective</b>: The aims of the study were to test the short-term and long-term efficacy of repetitive γ-tACS over the left DLPFC to improve visuospatial working memory performance in the spatial capacity delayed response task (SCDRT). <b>Methods</b>: In a single blind placebo-controlled study, 35 healthy young adults were randomly assigned to three sessions of either active γ-tACS (n = 18) or passive sham γ-tACS (n = 17) The design allowed us to evaluate the influence of the stimulation protocol (active vs. sham), the stimulation session number (day 1 to 3), the session block (before stimulation, during stimulation and after stimulation) and the VSWM retention load (1, 3, 5 or 7 stimuli) on the response speed and accuracy. <b>Results</b>: Active γ-tACS selectively improved VSWM performance on day 2 and 3, and the effect was greater following stimulation rather than during stimulation. Significant effects were seen concerning response speed but not accuracy. The VSWM performance gains of the active γ-tACS were no longer present in the long-term at a follow-up session after two weeks. <b>Conclusions</b>: The present study provides novel evidence for a selective improvement in VSWM performance with three repeated sessions of γ-tACS in young adults through the entrainment of gamma rhythms in the left DLPFC. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-3425 |