• Magnetic stimulation of the brain can im

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Tue Sep 28 21:30:42 2021
    Magnetic stimulation of the brain can improve episodic memory, study
    finds
    Inhibitory brain stimulation allows better memorization by reducing the
    power of beta-waves in the brain

    Date:
    September 28, 2021
    Source:
    PLOS
    Summary:
    The ability to form episodic memories declines with age, certain
    dementias, and brain injury. However, a new study shows that low
    frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered
    over the left prefrontal cortex of the brain can improve memory
    performance by reducing the power of low frequency brain waves as
    memories form.



    FULL STORY ========================================================================== Memories of past events and experiences are what define us as who we are,
    and yet the ability to form these episodic memories declines with age,
    certain dementias, and brain injury. However, a study publishing in
    the open access journal PLOS Biology on September 28thby Mircea van der
    Plas and Simon Hanslmayr from the University of Glasgow and colleagues,
    shows that low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation --
    or rTMS -- delivered over the left prefrontal cortex of the brain 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 rTMS, the
    researchers hypothesized that they could improve episodic memory, and
    in the process, generate targets for future memory-related therapies.

    The researchers first analyzed past data from 40 college students who
    had been asked to memorize lists of words. Half of the students received
    slow rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex while trying to
    memorize the words, and the other half received rTMS over a control
    region of the brain. 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 memory performance was better
    for words that were memorized while the left prefrontal cortex was
    being stimulated.

    Examining the EEG data that was recorded during the experiments, the researchers found that the slow rTMS applied to the prefrontal region
    led to reduced power of low-frequency (beta) waves in the parietal region
    of the brain, which is known to be involved in attention and perception.

    Because slow rTMS inhibits brain activity, and the prefrontal cortex
    inhibits the posterior regions of the brain, van der Plas and co-authors theorize that the slow rTMS disinhibited the activity of the parietal
    region, leading to enhanced encoding of the words being memorized,
    and thus improved memory.

    van der Plas notes, "Our electrophysiological results suggest that frontal stimulation affects a wider network and improves memory formation
    by inhibiting parietal areas. These are complex but interesting
    effects that require further experiments to better understand their
    neural basis." Hanslmayr adds, "We were quite surprised when we saw
    these effects in the first study, which was designed to investigate a
    different question. Therefore, we needed to replicate the effects in a
    second experiment to see whether this is real, and indeed it seems to be." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
    for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Mircea van der Plas, Verena Braun, Benjamin Johannes Stauch, Simon
    Hanslmayr. Stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
    with slow rTMS enhances verbal memory formation. PLOS Biology,
    2021; 19 (9): e3001363 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001363 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210928141848.htm

    --- up 3 weeks, 5 days, 8 hours, 25 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)