Triangular Wave tACS Improves Working Memory Performance by Enhancing Brain Activity in the Early Stage of Encoding
Jianxu Zhang1 · Jian Ouyang2 · Tiantian Liu2 · Xinyue Wang2 · Binbin Gao3 · Jinyan Zhang1 · Manli Luo4 · Anshun Kang2 · Zilong Yan1 · Li Wang2 · Guangying Pei2 · Shintaro Funahashi5 · Jinglong Wu2 · Jian Zhang2 · Tianyi Yan21 School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
2 School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
3 School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
4 Research Center for Frontier Fundamental Studies of Zhejianglab, Hangzhou 311100, China
5 Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Abstract
Working memory is an executive memory process that includes encoding, maintenance, and retrieval. These processes can be modulated by transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with sinusoidal waves. However, little is known about the impact of the rate of current change on working memory. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of two types of tACS with different rates of current change on working memory performance and brain activity. We applied a randomized, single-blind design and divided 81 young participants who received triangular wave tACS, sinusoidal wave tACS, or sham stimulation into three groups. Participants performed n-back tasks, and electroencephalograms were recorded before, during, and after active or sham stimulation. Compared to the baseline, working memory performance (accuracy and response time) improved after stimulation under all stimulation conditions. According to drift-diffusion model analysis, triangular wave tACS significantly increased the efficiency of non-target information processing. In addition, compared with sham conditions, triangular wave tACS reduced alpha power oscillations in the occipital lobe throughout the encoding period, while sinusoidal wave tACS increased theta power in the central frontal region only during the later encoding period. The brain network connectivity results showed that triangular wave tACS improved the clustering coefficient, local efficiency, and node degree intensity in the early encoding stage, and these parameters were positively correlated with the non-target drift rate and decision starting point. Our findings on how tACS modulates working memory indicate that triangular wave tACS significantly enhances brain network connectivity during the early encoding stage, demonstrating an improvement in the efficiency of working memory processing. In contrast, sinusoidal wave tACS increased the theta power during the later encoding stage, suggesting its potential critical role in late-stage information processing. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms by which tACS modulates working memory.
Keywords
Working memory; Transcranial alternating current stimulation; Triangular wave; Brain activity
