Causal phase-dependent control of non-spatial attention in human prefrontal cortex.

Non-spatial attention is a fundamental cognitive mechanism that allows organisms to orient the focus of conscious awareness towards sensory information that is relevant to a behavioural goal while shifting it away from irrelevant stimuli. It has been suggested that attention is regulated by the ongoing phase of slow excitability fluctuations of neural activity in the prefrontal cortex, a hypothesis that has been challenged with no consensus. Here we developed a behavioural and non-invasive stimulation paradigm aiming at modulating slow excitability fluctuations of the inferior frontal junction. Using this approach, we show that non-spatial attention can be selectively modulated as a function of the ongoing phase of exogenously modulated excitability states of this brain structure. These results demonstrate that non-spatial attention relies on ongoing prefrontal excitability states, which are probably regulated by slow oscillatory dynamics, that orchestrate goal-oriented behaviour.

Modulation of Visual Contrast Sensitivity with tRNS across the Visual System, Evidence from Stimulation and Simulation.

Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) has been shown to significantly improve visual perception. Previous studies demonstrated that tRNS delivered over cortical areas acutely enhances visual contrast detection of weak stimuli. However, it is currently unknown whether tRNS-induced signal enhancement could be achieved within different neural substrates along the retino-cortical pathway. In three experimental sessions, we tested whether tRNS applied to the primary visual cortex (V1) and/or to the retina improves visual contrast detection. We first measured visual contrast detection threshold (VCT; N = 24, 16 females) during tRNS delivery separately over V1 and over the retina, determined the optimal tRNS intensities for each individual (ind-tRNS), and retested the effects of ind-tRNS within the sessions. We further investigated whether we could reproduce the ind-tRNS-induced modulation on a different session (N = 19, 14 females). Finally, we tested whether the simultaneous application of ind-tRNS to the retina and V1 causes additive effects. Moreover, we present detailed simulations of the induced electric field across the visual system. We found that at the group level tRNS decreases VCT compared with baseline when delivered to the V1. Beneficial effects of ind-tRNS could be replicated when retested within the same experimental session but not when retested in a separate session. Applying tRNS to the retina did not cause a systematic reduction of VCT, regardless of whether the individually optimized intensity was considered or not. We also did not observe consistent additive effects of V1 and retina stimulation. Our findings demonstrate significant tRNS-induced modulation of visual contrast processing in V1 but not in the retina.

Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation of the human striatum enhances striatal activity and motor skill learning.

The stimulation of deep brain structures has thus far only been possible with invasive methods. Transcranial electrical temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) is a novel, noninvasive technology that might overcome this limitation. The initial proof-of-concept was obtained through modeling, physics experiments and rodent models. Here we show successful noninvasive neuromodulation of the striatum via tTIS in humans using computational modeling, functional magnetic resonance imaging studies and behavioral evaluations. Theta-burst patterned striatal tTIS increased activity in the striatum and associated motor network. Furthermore, striatal tTIS enhanced motor performance, especially in healthy older participants as they have lower natural learning skills than younger subjects. These findings place tTIS as an exciting new method to target deep brain structures in humans noninvasively, thus enhancing our understanding of their functional role. Moreover, our results lay the groundwork for innovative, noninvasive treatment strategies for brain disorders in which deep striatal structures play key pathophysiological roles.

Toward integrative approaches to study the causal role of neural oscillations via transcranial electrical stimulation.

Diverse transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) techniques have recently been developed to elucidate the role of neural oscillations, but critically, it remains questionable whether neural entrainment genuinely occurs and is causally related to the resulting behavior. Here, we provide a perspective on an emerging integrative research program across systems, species, theoretical and experimental frameworks to elucidate the potential of tES to induce neural entrainment. We argue that such an integrative agenda is a requirement to establish tES as a tool to test the causal role of neural oscillations and highlight critical issues that should be considered when adopting a translational approach.

Can low-intensity tACS genuinely entrain neural activity in vivo?

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) was introduced about a decade ago as a non-invasive brain stimulation method to modulate neural oscillations in a relatively safe manner in humans. However, the possibility to induce genuine neural entrainment with low current intensities has been questioned. In a recent study, Johnson and colleagues provide direct evidence for the efficacy of low-intensity tACS to induce neural entrainment in awake monkeys. These findings have important translational implications for human non-invasive neuromodulation research.