Print Close

The effects of theta transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on Proactive control

Poster No:

Submission Type:

Abstract Submission

Authors:

Renlai Zhou¹, Lei wang¹

Institutions:

¹Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu

First Author:

Renlai Zhou
Nanjing University
Nanjing, Jiangsu

Co-Author:

Lei wang
Nanjing University
Nanjing, Jiangsu

Introduction:

Research has shown a close association between an individual's proactive control ability and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, the role of the DLPFC in proactive control remains unclear. Theta oscillations, functioning as a gating mechanism, can regulate the brain's allocation of more attentional resources to prioritize the processing of memory-related information, thereby enhancing the maintenance of memory information. It play a significant role in the processing of memory information and the allocation of cognitive resources. This study aims to verify the role of the DLPFC in individual proactive control by applying theta oscillations transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to this region. At the same time, to explore the relationship between fluid intelligence and proactive control ability, we tested the fluid intelligence scores of subjects under different conditions.

Methods:

58 participants were randomly categorized into two groups(left DLPFC, n = 29; right DLPFC, n = 29). The individuals participated in two sessions-sham and active tACS, which were counterbalanced. The sham and active settings were separated by 28 days in order to ensure that the females were tested on the same day of their menstrual cycle. It has been shown that the relative release of sexual hormones during different phases of the menstrual cycle affects cognitive responses of females. During both sessions, the participants were received HD‑tACS stimulation at 2 mA for 20 min(in the sham setting only for 30s) after which they performance of the AX-CPT task while their electroencephalogram was recorded. Subsequently they solved Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM). At the end of the experiment the participants answered a questionnaire about their sensations during the stimulation period. An electroencephalogram was recorded continuously using a 32 Ag-AgCl electrodes elastic cap. EEGLAB (Version 13.0.0.1b) was used for off-line analysis. The CNV, N2, and P3 components induced by feedback were analyzed. Behaviorally, individuals with accuracy rates in three conditions and d' Context index were analyzed.

Results:

RAMP Scores：Left DLPFC Group: Active stimulation significantly improved participants' fluid intelligence; Right DLPFC Group: Any condition did not significantly improve participants' fluid intelligence.
Accuracy：Left DLPFC Group: The accuracy for AX under pre-stimulus and active stimulus conditions were significantly higher than sham-stimulus conditions, and the accuracy for BX under active stimulus conditions was significantly higher than pre-stimulus and sham-stimulus conditions. Right DLPFC Group: The accuracy of AY under active stimulation conditions was significantly higher than pre-stimulus and sham-stimulus conditions.
d' Context index：Left DLPFC Group: The d' Context index under the active stimulation condition was significantly higher than pre-stimulus and sham-stimulus conditions. Right DLPFC Group: Any condition did not significantly improve participants' d' Context index.
CNV：Left DLPFC Group: The CNV amplitude of BX condition under the active stimulation condition was significantly greater than the AX and AY conditions. Right DLPFC Group: Any condition did not significantly improve participants' CNV amplitude.
N2： No significant interaction was found.
P3： No significant interaction was found.
Correlation analyses：fluid intelligence of the subjects are significantly correlated with both the amplitude of the CNV and the d' Context index. Higher CNV amplitudes are associated with higher fluid intelligence scores, and higher d' Context index are also associated with higher fluid intelligence scores.

·Fig. 1. Chart bars is constructed from the BX average accuracy, d and AIM of two groups of participants.

·Fig. 2. The Waveforms, topographical maps and Bar chap of CNV for the left DLPFC groups

Conclusions:

6Hz theta-tACS stimulation on the left DLPFC enhances participants' proactive control abilities, as well as their fluid intelligence scores. proactive control ability may be one of the primary determinants of an individual's fluid intelligence.

Brain Stimulation:

Non-invasive Electrical/tDCS/tACS/tRNS ¹

Higher Cognitive Functions:

Executive Function, Cognitive Control and Decision Making ²

Modeling and Analysis Methods:

EEG/MEG Modeling and Analysis

Keywords:

Cognition

Cortex

Electroencephaolography (EEG)

^1|2Indicates the priority used for review

Abstract Information

By submitting your proposal, you grant permission for the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) to distribute your work in any format, including video, audio print and electronic text through OHBM OnDemand, social media channels, the OHBM website, or other electronic publications and media.

I accept

The Open Science Special Interest Group (OSSIG) is introducing a reproducibility challenge for OHBM 2025. This new initiative aims to enhance the reproducibility of scientific results and foster collaborations between labs. Teams will consist of a “source” party and a “reproducing” party, and will be evaluated on the success of their replication, the openness of the source work, and additional deliverables. Click here for more information. Propose your OHBM abstract(s) as source work for future OHBM meetings by selecting one of the following options:

I do not want to participate in the reproducibility challenge.

Please indicate below if your study was a "resting state" or "task-activation” study.

Task-activation

Healthy subjects only or patients (note that patient studies may also involve healthy subjects):

Healthy subjects

Was this research conducted in the United States?

Were any human subjects research approved by the relevant Institutional Review Board or ethics panel? NOTE: Any human subjects studies without IRB approval will be automatically rejected.

Were any animal research approved by the relevant IACUC or other animal research panel? NOTE: Any animal studies without IACUC approval will be automatically rejected.

Not applicable

Please indicate which methods were used in your research:

EEG/ERP

Behavior

Provide references using APA citation style.

yes.

UNESCO Institute of Statistics and World Bank Waiver Form

I attest that I currently live, work, or study in a country on the UNESCO Institute of Statistics and World Bank List of Low and Middle Income Countries list provided.