BACKGROUND Working memory serves as a fundamental cognitive function that substantially impacts performance in various cognitive tasks.Extensive neurophysiological research has established that theta oscillations(4-8 ...BACKGROUND Working memory serves as a fundamental cognitive function that substantially impacts performance in various cognitive tasks.Extensive neurophysiological research has established that theta oscillations(4-8 Hz)play an essential role in supporting working memory operations.Theta-band transcranial alternating current stimulation(tACS)offers a potential mechanism for working memory enhancement through direct modulation of these fundamental neural oscillations.Nevertheless,current empirical evidence shows substantial variability in the observed effects of theta-tACS across studies.AIM To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of thetatACS on working memory performance in healthy adults.METHODS A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed,EMBASE,and Web of Science up to March 10,2025.Effect sizes were computed using Hedges’g with 95%confidence intervals(CIs),with separate meta-analyses for all included studies and for distinct working memory paradigms[n-back and delayed matchto-sample(DMTS)tasks]to examine potential task-specific effects.Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to evaluate the influence of key moderating variables.RESULTS The systematic review included 21 studies(67 effect sizes).Initial meta-analysis showed theta-tACS moderately improved working memory(Hedges’g=0.405,95%CI:0.212-0.598).However,this effect became nonsignificant after correcting for publication bias(trim-and-fill adjusted Hedges’g=0.082,95%CI:-0.052 to 0.217).Task-specific analyses revealed significant benefits in n-back tasks(Hedges’g=0.463,95%CI:0.193-0.733)but not in DMTS tasks(Hedges’g=0.257,95%CI:-0.186 to 0.553).Moderator analyses showed that performance in n-back tasks was influenced by stimulation frequency(P=0.001),concurrent status(P=0.014),task modality(P=0.005),and duration(P=0.013),whereas only the region of targeted stimulation(P=0.012)moderated DMTS tasks.CONCLUSION Theta-tACS enhances working memory in healthy adults,with effects modulated by the task type and protocol parameters,offering dual implications for cognitive enhancement and clinical interventions.展开更多
基金Supported by Shanghai Municipal Health Commission’s Special Clinical Research Project for the Hygiene Industry,No.20244Y0041Youth Initiation Fund of Naval Medical University,No.2023QN028 and No.2023QN030。
文摘BACKGROUND Working memory serves as a fundamental cognitive function that substantially impacts performance in various cognitive tasks.Extensive neurophysiological research has established that theta oscillations(4-8 Hz)play an essential role in supporting working memory operations.Theta-band transcranial alternating current stimulation(tACS)offers a potential mechanism for working memory enhancement through direct modulation of these fundamental neural oscillations.Nevertheless,current empirical evidence shows substantial variability in the observed effects of theta-tACS across studies.AIM To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of thetatACS on working memory performance in healthy adults.METHODS A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed,EMBASE,and Web of Science up to March 10,2025.Effect sizes were computed using Hedges’g with 95%confidence intervals(CIs),with separate meta-analyses for all included studies and for distinct working memory paradigms[n-back and delayed matchto-sample(DMTS)tasks]to examine potential task-specific effects.Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to evaluate the influence of key moderating variables.RESULTS The systematic review included 21 studies(67 effect sizes).Initial meta-analysis showed theta-tACS moderately improved working memory(Hedges’g=0.405,95%CI:0.212-0.598).However,this effect became nonsignificant after correcting for publication bias(trim-and-fill adjusted Hedges’g=0.082,95%CI:-0.052 to 0.217).Task-specific analyses revealed significant benefits in n-back tasks(Hedges’g=0.463,95%CI:0.193-0.733)but not in DMTS tasks(Hedges’g=0.257,95%CI:-0.186 to 0.553).Moderator analyses showed that performance in n-back tasks was influenced by stimulation frequency(P=0.001),concurrent status(P=0.014),task modality(P=0.005),and duration(P=0.013),whereas only the region of targeted stimulation(P=0.012)moderated DMTS tasks.CONCLUSION Theta-tACS enhances working memory in healthy adults,with effects modulated by the task type and protocol parameters,offering dual implications for cognitive enhancement and clinical interventions.
