Project:

Effect of synchronization and desynchronization of theta-tACS on working memory

Mentor (Advisor):

RNDr. Eugen Kvašňák, Ph.D.

Department:

Department of medical biophysics and informatics

Contact information:

eugen.kvasnak@lf3.cuni.cz, 26710 2304

Project Narrative:

Synchronization between brain oscillations of different cortical areas is considered a fundamental phenomenon in cognitive and behavioural processes, which is also the reason for the increased interest in manipulating phase synchronizations of theta oscillations. Recent studies with synchronization have yielded interesting results, e.g., that transcranial alternating stimulation at theta frequency (theta-tACS) applied in-phase (in-phase theta-tACS) to the right and left posterior parietal cortex improves the visual component of WM in low cognitive performers, whereas theta-tACS applied in-phase in the left and right parietal cortex (anti-phase) has a negative effect on the memory abilities of high performers (Tseng et al, 2018). This is correlated with the significantly reduced reaction times (in the letter discrimination test) found when in-phase theta-tACS was applied to the left prefrontal and posterior parietal cortex compared to anti-phase theta-tACS. A study with fronto-parietal synchronization and theta-tACS desynchronization showed that theta-phase desynchronization had significant negative effects on both working memory (reaction time and performance) and frontal-parietal cortex connectivity; on the other hand, theta synchronization had no effect on WM. The aim of the project is to validate that fronto-parietal synchronization theta-tACS has positive effect on all 3 parts of working memory and in contrast to desynchronization theta-tACS. (Klimesch et al., 2010; Siegel et al., 2012; Kleinert et al., 2017; Polanía et al., 2012; Alekseichuk et al., 2017; Kleinert et al., 2017; Violante et al., 2017; Tseng et al, 2018)

Requirements for student applicants:

Completed university education (Master) in general medicine, or, psychology or natural sciences or biological signal processing.