Institute for Medical Research, Human Neuroscience Group, University of Belgrade;
Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Psychology, University of Belgrade.
J Vis Exp. 2021 Sep 18(175). doi: 10.3791/62681.
Memory enhancement is one of the great challenges in cognitive neuroscience and neurorehabilitation. Among various techniques used for memory enhancement, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is emerging as an especially promising tool for improvement of memory functions in a non-invasive manner. Here, we present a tDCS protocol that can be applied for memory enhancement in healthy-participant studies as well as in aging and dementia research. The protocol uses weak constant anodal current to stimulate cortical targets within cortico-hippocampal functional network engaged in memory processes. The target electrode is placed either on the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) or the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), while the return electrode is placed extracranially (i.e., on the contralateral cheek). In addition, we outline a more advanced method of oscillatory tDCS, mimicking a natural brain rhythm to promote hippocampus-dependent memory functions, which can be applied in a personalized and non-personalized manner. We present illustrative results of associative and working memory improvement following single tDCS sessions (20 minutes) in which the described electrode montages were used with current intensities between 1.5 mA and 1.8 mA. Finally, we discuss crucial steps in the protocol and methodological decisions that must be made when designing a tDCS study on memory.
记忆增强是认知神经科学和神经康复领域的重大挑战之一。在用于增强记忆的各种技术中,经颅直流电刺激(tDCS)作为一种非侵入性的方法,正在成为改善记忆功能的一种很有前途的工具。在这里,我们提出了一种 tDCS 方案,可用于健康参与者研究以及衰老和痴呆症研究中的记忆增强。该方案使用弱恒定阳极电流刺激参与记忆过程的皮质 - 海马功能网络内的皮质靶标。目标电极放置在后顶叶皮层(PPC)或背外侧前额叶皮层(DLPFC)上,而返回电极放置在颅外(即对侧脸颊上)。此外,我们概述了一种更先进的振荡 tDCS 方法,模拟自然脑节律以促进海马依赖的记忆功能,可采用个性化和非个性化方式应用。我们展示了单次 tDCS 治疗(20 分钟)后联想和工作记忆改善的说明性结果,其中使用了描述的电极布局和 1.5 mA 至 1.8 mA 的电流强度。最后,我们讨论了方案中的关键步骤和在设计记忆的 tDCS 研究时必须做出的方法学决策。
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