Brain magnetic stimulation can enhance memory performance
Memories of past events and experiences are what define us as who we are. Yet, the ability to form these episodic memories declines with age, certain dementias, and brain injury. A study by the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, shows low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or rTMS stimulation can improve memory performance by reducing the power of low-frequency brain waves as memories form.
Based on current knowledge of the brain and the effects of rTMS, the researcher's hypothesised that they could improve episodic memory, and in the process, generate targets for future memory-related therapies.
The researchers first analysed past data from 40 college students who had been asked to memorise lists of words. Half of the students received slow rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex while memorising the words, and the other half received rTMS over a control region of the brain. Then, in a new experiment, researchers collected data from 24 college students who each performed a similar memory task under both rTMS conditions.
Analysis of both datasets revealed that the slow rTMS applied to the prefrontal region led to the reduced power of low-frequency (beta) waves in the parietal region of the brain, which is known to be involved in attention and perception.
The electrophysiological results suggest that frontal stimulation affects a broader network and improves memory formation by inhibiting parietal areas. These are complex but exciting effects that require further experiments to better understand their neural basis.
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