Researchers at Minnesota using their non-invasive neuromodulation technique. [Image courtesy of Opitz Lab, University of Minnesota Twin Cities]
The team believes the development could help discover new therapies for treating brain disorders like schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. They published their study in Nature Communications.
Using transcranial alternating current stimulation, the researchers modulated brain activity with a small electrical current. They shifted the timing of brain cell activity, which relates to neuroplasticity within the brain. This change in connections between brain cells directly relates to human behavior, learning and cognition.
“Previous research showed that brain activity was time-locked to stimulation. What we found in this new study is that this relationship slowly changed and the brain adapted over time as we added in external stimulation,” said Alexander Opitz, University of Minnesota biomedical engineering associate professor. “This showed brain activity shifting in a way we didn’t expect.”
The research resulted in what the team calls “neural phase precession.” This occurs when the brain activity gradually changes over time in relation to a repeating pattern. All three methods investigated by the Minnesota team — computational models, humans and animals — demonstrated that external stimulation could shift brain activity over time.
“The timing of this repeating pattern has a direct impact on brain processes, for example, how we navigate space, learn, and remember,” Opitz said.
The team says its technique demonstrates the brain’s adaptation to external stimulation, either increasing or decreasing brain activity. However, they said it’s most powerful when it targets specific functions that affect behaviors. With this, they could potentially improve long-term memory, too. Opitz hopes this could lead to more personalized therapies for psychiatric and neurological disorders.
