Project:

Elderly working memory improvement by dual-phase alpha transcranial alternating current stimulation

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:

Large-scale synchronization of neural oscillations is a key mechanism for exchanging information between distant brain regions. Dual-site transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (ds-tACS) is a non-invasive technique that modifies the phase relationship of local oscillations in two connected cortical areas. While the frequency in the two target areas is the same, the phase of the stimulation is either identical (in-phase) or opposite (anti-phase stimulation). Phasic stimulation is thought to synchronize endogenous oscillations and thereby improve behavioral performance; conversely, antiphase stimulation desynchronizes neural oscillations in these two regions, which is expected to reduce performance. The aim of the project is to use a battery of memory tests to compare the cognitive effects of in-phase and anti-phase ds-tACS at frequencies 7, 10, 20 and 30, with one stimulation site being frontal and the other parietal. (Saturnino et al., 2017)

Requirements for student applicants:

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