Alpha power modulation with tACS: a customized therapeutic approach

Among other electrophysiological biomarkers, power reduction in the alpha frequency band (8-12 Hz) is characteristic of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Restoring power in this band could help improve the performance of related functional networks and the cognitive state in AD patients. Transcranial alternate current stimulation (tACS) stands as a promising tool in this regard, given its capacity to entrain neural activity at a particular frequency. 27 healthy participants with ages ranging from (22 to 55 years/ 32.80 ± 8.52 ) were recruited for this study. After being randomly assigned to verum or sham group, each participant was stimulated through tACS at the Cz and Oz electrodes at his own Individual Alpha Frequency (IAF) for 20 minutes. The neurophysiological activity of each participant was initially captured by two successive 5-minute eyes-closed resting state MEG recordings, with a 10-minute time interval between the two sessions. After stimulation, a third MEG recording was extracted to measure the effects. After performing the CBPT analysis, the tACS group showed an increase of alpha power in a cluster of bilateral frontal, temporal and occipital cortical sources (p<0.01). Research Category and Technology and Methods Clinical Research: 5. Other Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES) Keywords: tACS, MCI, Alfa, Neurostimulation