Optimizing tACS for working memory: differential outcomes in healthy aging and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

ABSTRACT: Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the theta frequency range has been shown to enhance working memory (WM) performance. However, no studies have directly compared the effects of theta tACS between cognitively healthy elderly (HE) subjects and subjects with non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Our proof-of-concept study investigated the effects of monofocal (frontal) and bifocal (frontoparietal) theta tACS on WM in two cognitive loads in HE subjects and in subjects with MCI. In this sham-controlled, single-blinded, repeated-measures study with counterbalanced stimulation order across subjects (n = 55), theta tACS (4.51 Hz, 1.5 mA, 20 min) was applied either over the frontal site alone or simultaneously over frontal and parietal sites. WM 2-back and 3-back tasks

SUBMITTER: Mitterova K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12777262 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature