Flicker-driven responses in visual cortex change during matched-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation

Ruhnau, P., Keitel, C. , Lithari, C., Weisz, N. and Neuling, T. (2016) Flicker-driven responses in visual cortex change during matched-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, 184. (doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00184) (PMID:27199707) (PMCID:PMC4844646)

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Abstract

We tested a novel combination of two neuro-stimulation techniques, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and frequency tagging, that promises powerful paradigms to study the causal role of rhythmic brain activity in perception and cognition. Participants viewed a stimulus flickering at 7 or 11 Hz that elicited periodic brain activity, termed steady-state responses (SSRs), at the same temporal frequency and its higher order harmonics. Further, they received simultaneous tACS at 7 or 11 Hz that either matched or differed from the flicker frequency. Sham tACS served as a control condition. Recent advances in reconstructing cortical sources of oscillatory activity allowed us to measure SSRs during concurrent tACS, which is known to impose strong artifacts in magnetoencephalographic (MEG) recordings. For the first time, we were thus able to demonstrate immediate effects of tACS on SSR-indexed early visual processing. Our data suggest that tACS effects are largely frequency-specific and reveal a characteristic pattern of differential influences on the harmonic constituents of SSRs.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Keitel, Dr Christian
Authors: Ruhnau, P., Keitel, C., Lithari, C., Weisz, N., and Neuling, T.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
Journal Name:Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Publisher:Frontiers Media
ISSN:1662-5161
ISSN (Online):1662-5161
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 10: 184
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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