Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40309851›Full record

ArticleBrain sciences2025

Gamma Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Enhances Working Memory Ability in Healthy People: An EEG Microstate Study.

Binbin Gao, Jinyan Zhang, Jianxu Zhang, Guangying Pei, Tiantian Liu, Li Wang, Shintaro Funahashi, Jinglong Wu, Zhilin Zhang, Jian Zhang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Brain sciences, 2025. 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

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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. Article
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

10 authors.

Binbin GaoSchool of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.ORCID 0000-0001-7754-2471
Jinyan ZhangSchool of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Jianxu ZhangSchool of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Guangying PeiSchool of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.ORCID 0000-0003-3349-8813
Tiantian LiuSchool of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Li WangSchool of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Shintaro FunahashiAdvanced Research Institute for Multidisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Jinglong WuSchool of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Zhilin ZhangResearch Center for Medical Artificial Intelligence, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.ORCID 0000-0002-2442-0478
Jian ZhangSchool of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.

Funding

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2023TQ0027National Natural Science Foundation of China U20A20191, 62336002, 82071912, 12104049, 82202291, 62306035, 62373056Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipal 23ISG022, 23ISG023, 7242274Scientific and Technological Innovation (STI) 2030-Major Projects 2022ZD0208500
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWorking memory (WM) is a core cognitive function closely linked to various cognitive processes including language, decision making, and reasoning. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, has been shown to modulate cognitive abilities and treat psychiatric disorders. Although gamma tACS (γ-tACS) has demonstrated positive effects on WM, its underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear.

methodsIn this study, we employed electroencephalogram (EEG) microstate analysis to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of γ-tACS effects on WM performance. Healthy participants (N = 104) participated in two-back and three-back WM tasks before and after two types (sine and triangular) of γ-tACS, with sham stimulation as a control.

resultsOur results revealed that γ-tACS improved performance in both the two-back and three-back tasks, with triangular γ-tACS showing greater accuracy improvement in the three-back task than the sham group. Furthermore, γ-tACS significantly modulated EEG microstate dynamics, specifically downregulating microstate Class C and upregulating microstate Classes D and B. These changes were positively correlated with reduced reaction times in the three-back task.

conclusionsOur findings establish microstate analysis as an effective approach for evaluating γ-tACS-induced changes in global brain activity and advance the understanding of how γ-tACS influences WM.

Indexed as

microstateresting-state EEGworking memoryγ-tACS

Identifiers

PMID40309851
PMCPMC12025431

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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.