Zapping One Brain Area May Selectively Improve Memory Recall

Source: Pixabay Researchers at UCLA have pinpointed a specific part of the prefrontal cortex that may be key for retrieving memories . One mild electrical "zap" to the left rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (RLPFC) using non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) significantly improved episodic memory source retrieval performance in a recent study, they reported. The researchers speculate that the left RLPFC plays a crucial role in cognitive functions that support episodic memory. These findings ( Westphal et al., 2019 ) were published online ahead of print on May 6 in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience . "We found dramatically improved memory performance when we increased the excitability of this region," the study’s senior author, Jesse Rissman , a UCLA assistant professor of psychology, psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, said in a press release. "The left rostrolateral prefrontal cortex is important for high-level thought, including monitoring and integrating information processed in other areas of the brain. We think this brain area is particularly important in accessing knowledge that you formed in the past and in making decisions about it." Are There Different Non-Invasive Transcranial Brain Stimulation Techniques? Multiple non-invasive transcranial stimulation techniques use weak, low-voltage electrical currents to zap targeted brain areas through the skull in controlled laboratory environments. (Note: Do not try this at home! ) Some of the most widely studied methods of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) include Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS), Transcranial Pulsed Current Stimulation (tPCS), and Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS). Another recent brain stimulation study ( Herpich et al. 2019 ) found that just 10 days of visual training coupled with transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) targeting the visual cortex resulted in improvements in visual motion perception. (See " Brain Stimulation May Improve Visual Learning .") How Does Zapping the Brain […]

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