Improving Working Memory with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) | Neuro3

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In the Neuroscience in 3 minutes (Neuro3) series we discuss recent or cool neuroscience studies. Today Wischnewski et al. (2021) on the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on working memory performance.
In a recent study, we have summarized the effects of 87 experiments where transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS, was used to improve working memory performance. Working memory, is crucially involved in many cognitive abilities. However, some research studies show that tDCS indeed can improve working memory, whereas other did not find significant effects.
This is partially due to experiments using different tDCS setups. In our study, we used computational modeling to figure out where exactly all these previous studies stimulated the brain with tDCS. We correlated our brain models with the effect on working memory that was reported.
Thereby a map was created where tDCS-induced electric fields relate most strongly to improved working memory. We found that the lower dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and upper inferior frontal gyrus most likely relates to tDCS-related improvements of working memory.
Reference:
Wischnewski, M., Mantell, K. E., & Opitz, A. (2021). Identifying regions in prefrontal cortex related to working memory improvement: A novel meta-analytic method using electric field modeling. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 130, 147-161. doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2...
Narrated by:
Miles Wischnewski
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Occasionally we make use of stock images and videos (pixabay.com or pexels.com). We use these to make our videos more lively (better than looking at a blank screen). These stock videos should not be taken as an exact scientific reflection of the discussed content. In some cases they are not fully accurate. We try to have a high viewing pleasure, while at the same time create as little confusion as possible. Thus we aim to only use them when it is clear that they are not directly related to the discussed content.
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The Psyched! channel focuses on providing education about psychology and neuroscience. Here you learn all about human behavior, the mind and the brain. It is our goal to reach everyone, from people who are casually interested to academic researchers. As such we provide simple explanation videos as well as profound lectures. If you like our content, consider to subscribe!
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27 авг 2021

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Комментарии : 43

@JacobProbasco Год назад

This is an amazing summary of your paper; I feel like this type of explanations along with papers are amazing at setting the framework for my mind before reading the paper itself for the deeper findings. Bravo!

@real.psyched Год назад

Thank you! I also think that such short video summaries for academic papers are great. I definitely want to make more of those in the future!

@rupambanerjee2066 Год назад

Inspired by your videos, I recently made a tDCS device with the help of a guy from the electronics department at my university. It is a basic DIY approach. I want to test it out and do a little pilot study. Where I live there is very little infrastructure. So I would have to work under many limitations. It would be great if you could guide me, and if there is any way to connect with you. I don't have any social media accounts other than RU-vid.

@real.psyched Год назад

Great you enjoyed the videos. Unfortunately I get a lot of requests to help or offer guidance. I tend not to do that, as I don't want to be responsible if something happens. So, I am sorry, I have to say no to your request. My advice would be to be careful, build up slowly, and base what you do on scientific guidelines and research papers.

@ccdj35 2 года назад

Thanks for the video. I got a tdcs device but couldn't figure out how to place them to improve memory and focus. The device has a black and a red cable which I assume black is the cathode(negative) and red is the anode(positive). I couldn't figure out whether the black goes to the right frontal cortex or left. I was also wondering if I want to keep one electrode on my forehead and use my arm for the other, should I keep the positive one on my forehead or the positive one, and which side. 1:41 here you have put reds on the left which I assume are positive but in your thumbnail, you put red on the right of your upper forehead. People also claim other people place the electrodes wrongly so there is a general misunderstanding in this I guess.

@real.psyched 2 года назад

I am not sure what device you use, so I can't guarantee, but is quite common that the anode is red and the cathode is blue (or black). The thumbnail is just a generic picture that I use for different videos, so that is not informative for what is used in the study I describe. Ignore that. The optimal montage, that was found by this study, is shown in 2:55. But I assume you do not have very small circular electrodes. So it would also work if you place your anode (red, positive) electrode where the two red dots are (so on the left side of the head). And the cathode (blue/black, negative) on the top of the head, where the two blue dots are. In other words, anode over F7 and cathode over Fz. Now, if you want to keep one electrode on the arm you can try montage D at 1:41. Which is where the anode (red, positive) is over F3 (left side of the fore head) and the other one on the shoulder or arm. I should also point out that in this study, both left and right frontal cortex were investigated and results were similar, so it does not seem to matter much if you go with left or right prefrontal cortex. Of course, always note that there are individual differences. What works on a group level may not work for each and every individual. Hope that helps.

@ccdj35 2 года назад

@@real.psyched Thanks for the detailed answer 😀

@highlyevil9358 9 месяцев назад

do u have any new thoughts on this? Also do u recommend any other videos on the subject and how to do it?(like amount of current and such)

@real.psyched 9 месяцев назад

The discussed paper is from late 2021, so, I don't think there a lot to update. There are some in depth lectures by Marom Bikson that might be useful

@raogongfu Год назад

Thank you for the informative video. What was the duration of the stimulation - on average.

@real.psyched Год назад

About 20 minutes

@raogongfu Год назад

@@real.psychedthank you so much. How many sessions do you need. What is the duration of improved working memory

@real.psyched Год назад

@@raogongfu Very hard to say, it differs per participant. However, after-effects are observed for up to an hour, after an 20 minute tDCS session. Might be longer for some though

@gabrielamahle1545 2 года назад

The MRI shown in 1:01 was upside down 😅

@real.psyched 2 года назад

Haha, yea, those stock videos can sometimes be really funny. I doubt she is a real doctor :D

@antoniushe Год назад

How long until a safe transcranial stimulation is commercially available? What about the shady tDCS-devices that are already on the market?

@real.psyched Год назад

I will admit that I am more familiar with research devices such as Neuroconn and Starstim, and I am pretty sure they are safe. As you say there are some commercially available devices. I am not sure how good they are. Some are likely better than others, but it is hard for me to judge. Having said that, in clinical research there is a strong push for the use of tDCS at home with professional assistence. That general trend suggests to me that hone use in general will get a big push (meaning improved quality and safety) in the next 3 years.

@antoniushe Год назад

@@real.psyched Many thanks for reverting swiftly. Do you know how much those research devices sell for? Really looking forward to seeing this sector evolve.

@real.psyched Год назад

The research devices are incredible expensive due to licensing (CE certification for example). So we would be talking about > 10k $

@jackalexmoore6495 Год назад

What are your thoughts on using this set up with ADHD participants and whether or not it will benefit their working memory?:)

@real.psyched Год назад

That is a great question. A colleague of mine actually wrote a research review article on tDCS in ADHD. link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12264-020-00501-x I would say it can be effective, but it won't work for everybody. That is because ADHD is very complex and will be reflected by different biomarkers in different people. Specifically for working memory, I think the montage presented in the video should be the best one (also in ADHD). Is it a guarantee that it works? Certainly not, but it gives you the best chances.

@jackalexmoore6495 Год назад

@@real.psyched Thank you so much for the reply. I appreciate the research article. I actually have cited some of their research in ADHD for my MSc degree!

@KOLLECT0R 2 года назад

How to locate the exact location to improve the working memory and thanks

@real.psyched 2 года назад

The best way is to use the 10-20 EEG system (in this case electrodes were placed over F7 and Fc1). Of course, if you don't have a cap, you can find ways to use measuring tape from the top of the head and other landmarks to get there. There are tips online.

@KOLLECT0R 2 года назад

@@real.psyched Thank you

@desolatemoon7377 Год назад

What tdcs device do you reccomend?

@real.psyched Год назад

I can't recommend a specific device. In research practice different devices are used and I am not familiar with commercially available devices

@dannichols6261 2 года назад

How is working memory tested? (And please don't think you HAVE to limit your videos to 3 minutes.)

@real.psyched 2 года назад

Since our meta-analysis included a variety of studies, there were different ways in which working memory was tested. The majority of studies used an a so-called N-back task, where participants have to remember whether a certain letter of number occured a few trials ago. Some other tasks were used as well though. It would be interesting to disect whether the tDCS effect differ for different tasks, but that is something for a future investigation :). And to your second point. We experiment a little with video length. This study would probably be boring to many viewers if it would be too long. We keep the longer videos for really cool studies! :)

@jimss596840 Год назад

@@real.psyched N-back task has its own limitation. I used to play N-back task for fun to see if it increase my working memory, and after a periods of time of playing I got to the point where I could remember 5, 6 steps back. But I don't observe an obvious change in my work efficiency etc. It seems that our brain is high in plasticity that it works well with the task after a sustained repetitive trainning. Using N-back task to indicate working memory may be deficient as some individual's brain are more plastic that it may yield a greater capability in learning and mastering the task. Then how would you distinguish if the increase in working memeory is due to the current stimulation or individual's innate learning competence? Maybe studies have already accounted for individual variability in brain plasticity when testing working memeory?

@real.psyched Год назад

@@jimss596840 All studies that were included in the analysis in this video had a sham control. Meaning that there was always a group that went through the same procedure, but with placebo tDCS. So, this placebo group should have the same learning effects. So, the effects you see in this analysis are effects on top of learning effects, which then must come from the stimulation.

@rohitk8797 2 года назад

I'm gonna give a Mensa IQ test after getting tdsc done. Lets see if it makes a difference.

@real.psyched 2 года назад

Good luck

@iofjiofiuh33 10 месяцев назад

lol, 5% maybe will be up your IQ

@MrMexBiker 11 месяцев назад

Placement of positive electrode on right side of head about halfway back and down with the negative one on your shoulder can produce an astral projection

@real.psyched 11 месяцев назад

Would be great if you could support this claim with a scientific paper

@MrMexBiker 11 месяцев назад

@@real.psyched Why? Not trying to convince anyone. Just sharing on my journey.

@real.psyched 11 месяцев назад

Well, because this channel is focused on science, and in your original post you never stated it was "your journey"

@joyceliporace2120 Год назад

In the video, the woman holding the MRI has it upside down. This makes your video a bit suspect.

@real.psyched Год назад

I appreciate the concern, but we occassionaly use stock videos to make the video more lively. These stock videos are certainly not the most accurate. However, they have no relationship to the discussed content of the video. Everything discussed about methods and results is based on the scientific paper in question. Nothing suspect about that The reference for the paper is provided in the description, so you can always read it for verification. Please let me know if you have any concerns about the actual content of the video, or the paper. As a note aside. Depending on what someone is looking at in an MRI scan it can be beneficial to hold it upside down.