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

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