Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38638697›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in neuroscience2024

Information-based rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation to accelerate learning during auditory working memory training: a proof-of-concept study.

Heather T Whittaker, Lina Khayyat, Jessica Fortier-Lavallée, Megan Laverdière, Carole Bélanger, Robert J Zatorre, Philippe Albouy

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in neuroscience, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Heather T WhittakerCognitive Neuroscience Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Lina KhayyatCognitive Neuroscience Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Jessica Fortier-LavalléeCERVO Brain Research Centre, School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
Megan LaverdièreCERVO Brain Research Centre, School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
Carole BélangerCERVO Brain Research Centre, School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
Robert J ZatorreCognitive Neuroscience Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Philippe AlbouyCognitive Neuroscience Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation (rhTMS) has been shown to enhance auditory working memory manipulation, specifically by boosting theta oscillatory power in the dorsal auditory pathway during task performance. It remains unclear whether these enhancements (i) persist beyond the period of stimulation, (ii) if they can accelerate learning and (iii) if they would accumulate over several days of stimulation. In the present study, we investigated the lasting behavioral and electrophysiological effects of applying rhTMS over the left intraparietal sulcus (IPS) throughout the course of seven sessions of cognitive training on an auditory working memory task. Methods: A limited sample of 14 neurologically healthy participants took part in the training protocol with an auditory working memory task while being stimulated with either theta (5 Hz) rhTMS or sham TMS. Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded before, throughout five training sessions and after the end of training to assess to effects of rhTMS on behavioral performance and on oscillatory entrainment of the dorsal auditory network. Results: We show that this combined approach enhances theta oscillatory activity within the fronto-parietal network and causes improvements in auditoryworking memory performance. We show that compared to individuals who received sham stimulation, cognitive training can be accelerated when combined with optimized rhTMS, and that task performance benefits can outlast the training period by ∼ 3 days. Furthermore, we show that there is increased theta oscillatory power within the recruited dorsal auditory network during training, and that sustained EEG changes can be observed ∼ 3 days following stimulation. Discussion: The present study, while underpowered for definitive statistical analyses, serves to improve our understanding of the causal dynamic interactions supporting auditory working memory. Our results constitute an important proof of concept for the potential translational impact of non-invasive brain stimulation protocols and provide preliminary data for developing optimized rhTMS and training protocols that could be implemented in clinical populations.

Indexed as

cognitionEEGfronto-parietal networkmemorytheta oscillationsTMS

Identifiers

PMID38638697
PMCPMC11024337

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.