Dual-site theta stimulation modulates connectivity, but not sequence memory in older adults

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Nina M. Ehrhardt - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • D. Yorben Lodema - , Utrecht University (Author)
  • Robert Fleischmann - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Ulrike Grittner - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Dayana Hayek - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Jevri Hanna - , University of Greifswald, University of Stuttgart (Author)
  • Robert Malinowski - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Shu Chen Li - , Chair of Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Clusters of Excellence CeTI: Centre for Tactile Internet (Author)
  • Axel Thielscher - , Technical University of Denmark, University of Copenhagen (Author)
  • Agnes Flöel - , University of Greifswald, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Daria Antonenko - , University of Greifswald (Author)

Abstract

Understanding and modulating memory functions in older adults continues to be a fundamental challenge for neuroscientific research. Given age-associated declines in long-range connectivity, network approaches targeting these connections are of particular interest. We investigated whether dual-site transcranial alternating current stimulation can modulate episodic (sequential) memory in cognitively healthy older adults (N = 44, aged 60–80 years). In a sham-controlled crossover design, participants received in-phase (0°) and anti-phase (180°) transcranial alternating current stimulation during a temporal order memory task, with a counterbalanced order of conditions. We computed source analysis-based weighted phase lag indices and corrected amplitude envelope correlation between left hemispheric fronto-parietal stimulation targets from resting-state electroencephalography to quantify modulation of functional connectivity, and conducted analyses of phase angles between these targets. No overall memory effects were observed in either active stimulation conditions, compared with sham. However, the results showed an interaction between memory modulation and age, indicating that the older the participants the higher the memory improvement in the anti-phase condition. Functional coupling increase was observed in both anti- and in-phase conditions as an elevated weighted phase lag indices theta change, compared with sham. No differences were observed for weighted phase lag indices in other frequency bands (alpha, beta) or for the corrected amplitude envelope correlation (theta, alpha, beta). Theta phase angle shifts were increased in the anti-phase compared with the sham condition. Further, in the anti-phase condition, the increase in theta connectivity was linked to age and memory improvement, indicating a potential mechanistic link between neurophysiological and cognitive outcomes. In sum, our findings suggest that dual-site anti-phase stimulation may increase functional connectivity in older adults with large interindividual variability in memory effects, warranting further investigation to optimize stimulation strategies.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numberfcag153
JournalBrain Communications
Volume8
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 27 Apr 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • ageing, episodic memory, large-scale brain oscillations, non-invasive brain stimulation, transcranial alternating stimulation