Is It Possible to Improve Working Memory With Prefrontal tDCS? Bridging Currents to Working Memory Models
A great deal of research has been performed with the promise of improving such critical cognitive functions as working memory (WM), with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a well-tolerated, inexpensive, easy-to-use intervention. Under the assumption that by delivering currents through e...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-05-01
|
Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00939/full |
id |
doaj-d2d69931c9ea41f699eb201431142191 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-d2d69931c9ea41f699eb2014311421912020-11-25T02:33:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782020-05-011110.3389/fpsyg.2020.00939503337Is It Possible to Improve Working Memory With Prefrontal tDCS? Bridging Currents to Working Memory ModelsNicola Riccardo Polizzotto0Nithya Ramakrishnan1Nithya Ramakrishnan2Raymond Y. Cho3Raymond Y. Cho4Raymond Y. Cho5Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesMichael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, United StatesPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesMichael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, United StatesMenninger Clinic, Houston, TX, United StatesA great deal of research has been performed with the promise of improving such critical cognitive functions as working memory (WM), with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a well-tolerated, inexpensive, easy-to-use intervention. Under the assumption that by delivering currents through electrodes placed in suitable locations on the scalp, it is possible to increase prefrontal cortex excitability and therefore improve WM. A growing number of studies have led to mixed results, leading to the realization that such oversimplified assumptions need revision. Models spanning currents to behavior have been advocated in order to reconcile and inform neurostimulation investigations. We articulate such multilevel exploration to tDCS/WM by briefly reviewing critical aspects at each level of analysis but focusing on the circuit level and how available biophysical WM models could inform tDCS. Indeed, such models should replace vague reference to cortical excitability changes with relevant tDCS net effects affecting neural computation and behavior in a more predictable manner. We will refer to emerging WM models and explore to what extent the general concept of excitation-inhibition (E/I) balance is a meaningful intermediate level of analysis, its relationship with gamma oscillatory activity, and the extent to which it can index tDCS effects. We will highlight some predictions that appear consistent with empirical evidence – such as non-linearities and trait dependency of effects and possibly a preferential effect on WM control functions – as well as limitations that appear related to the dynamical aspects of coding by persistent activity.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00939/fullworking memoryneurostimulationTDCSexcitation/inhibition balancegamma oscillationscomputational modeling |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Nicola Riccardo Polizzotto Nithya Ramakrishnan Nithya Ramakrishnan Raymond Y. Cho Raymond Y. Cho Raymond Y. Cho |
spellingShingle |
Nicola Riccardo Polizzotto Nithya Ramakrishnan Nithya Ramakrishnan Raymond Y. Cho Raymond Y. Cho Raymond Y. Cho Is It Possible to Improve Working Memory With Prefrontal tDCS? Bridging Currents to Working Memory Models Frontiers in Psychology working memory neurostimulation TDCS excitation/inhibition balance gamma oscillations computational modeling |
author_facet |
Nicola Riccardo Polizzotto Nithya Ramakrishnan Nithya Ramakrishnan Raymond Y. Cho Raymond Y. Cho Raymond Y. Cho |
author_sort |
Nicola Riccardo Polizzotto |
title |
Is It Possible to Improve Working Memory With Prefrontal tDCS? Bridging Currents to Working Memory Models |
title_short |
Is It Possible to Improve Working Memory With Prefrontal tDCS? Bridging Currents to Working Memory Models |
title_full |
Is It Possible to Improve Working Memory With Prefrontal tDCS? Bridging Currents to Working Memory Models |
title_fullStr |
Is It Possible to Improve Working Memory With Prefrontal tDCS? Bridging Currents to Working Memory Models |
title_full_unstemmed |
Is It Possible to Improve Working Memory With Prefrontal tDCS? Bridging Currents to Working Memory Models |
title_sort |
is it possible to improve working memory with prefrontal tdcs? bridging currents to working memory models |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Psychology |
issn |
1664-1078 |
publishDate |
2020-05-01 |
description |
A great deal of research has been performed with the promise of improving such critical cognitive functions as working memory (WM), with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a well-tolerated, inexpensive, easy-to-use intervention. Under the assumption that by delivering currents through electrodes placed in suitable locations on the scalp, it is possible to increase prefrontal cortex excitability and therefore improve WM. A growing number of studies have led to mixed results, leading to the realization that such oversimplified assumptions need revision. Models spanning currents to behavior have been advocated in order to reconcile and inform neurostimulation investigations. We articulate such multilevel exploration to tDCS/WM by briefly reviewing critical aspects at each level of analysis but focusing on the circuit level and how available biophysical WM models could inform tDCS. Indeed, such models should replace vague reference to cortical excitability changes with relevant tDCS net effects affecting neural computation and behavior in a more predictable manner. We will refer to emerging WM models and explore to what extent the general concept of excitation-inhibition (E/I) balance is a meaningful intermediate level of analysis, its relationship with gamma oscillatory activity, and the extent to which it can index tDCS effects. We will highlight some predictions that appear consistent with empirical evidence – such as non-linearities and trait dependency of effects and possibly a preferential effect on WM control functions – as well as limitations that appear related to the dynamical aspects of coding by persistent activity. |
topic |
working memory neurostimulation TDCS excitation/inhibition balance gamma oscillations computational modeling |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00939/full |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT nicolariccardopolizzotto isitpossibletoimproveworkingmemorywithprefrontaltdcsbridgingcurrentstoworkingmemorymodels AT nithyaramakrishnan isitpossibletoimproveworkingmemorywithprefrontaltdcsbridgingcurrentstoworkingmemorymodels AT nithyaramakrishnan isitpossibletoimproveworkingmemorywithprefrontaltdcsbridgingcurrentstoworkingmemorymodels AT raymondycho isitpossibletoimproveworkingmemorywithprefrontaltdcsbridgingcurrentstoworkingmemorymodels AT raymondycho isitpossibletoimproveworkingmemorywithprefrontaltdcsbridgingcurrentstoworkingmemorymodels AT raymondycho isitpossibletoimproveworkingmemorywithprefrontaltdcsbridgingcurrentstoworkingmemorymodels |
_version_ |
1724816244747534336 |