Cross-hemispheric Alternating Current Stimulation During a Nap Disrupts Slow Wave Activity and Associated Memory Consolidation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Slow Wave Activity (SWA), the low frequency (<4 Hz) oscillations that characterize Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) are thought to relate causally to declarative memory consolidation during nocturnal sleep. Evidence is conflicting relating SWA to memory consolidation during nap however.

Objective/hypothesis

We applied transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) - which, with a cross-hemispheric electrode montage (F3 and F4 - International 10:20 EEG system), is able to disrupt brain oscillations-to determine if disruption of low frequency oscillation generation during afternoon nap is causally related to disruption in declarative memory consolidation.

Methods

Eight human subjects each participated in stimulation and sham nap sessions. A verbal paired associate

SUBMITTER: Garside P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4464303 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature