The topic for the research being proposed is to investigate whether the use of tDCS (transcranial direct stimulation) applied to a specific area of the human test subjects brain’s can enhance working memory, more specifically memory retrieval. tDCS has become a popular technology due to the affordability of the equipment involved. tCDS is a fairly new technology and with that comes unkown, not yet discovered, aspects of the technology. The first and most notable unknown is the long term effects linked to the use of tCDS. The second aspect is whether the alterations to memory function are temporary or permanent.
The primary reason for the proposed research to be conducted is to reveal whether or not tDCS can truly enhance human working memory. …show more content…
Both disorders generally characterized by the dysfunction of cortical areas that are involved in memory. tDCS applies a weak electrical current to the brain area of interest via electrodes. The stimulation applied causes a modulation of neural oscillations in the brain area stimulated. These oscillations cause long lasting plastic effects involving synaptic modification, which is also known as neuroplasticity. Past studies have revealed that certain memory functions improve when tDCS is applied subjects dorsolateral prefrontal cortex..
In the research conducted by Rossi Simone and his colleagues, their research team aimed to investigate episodic memory (Rossi, 2006, pg. 1). Episodic memory involves the encoding and retrieval of unique events associated with the context in which the events occurred. The researchers primary focus was to stimulate either the left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC); both hemispheres responsible for a different aspect of episodic memory. During the experiment each of the two prefrontal hemispheres were targeted separately during each trial (Rossi, 2006, pg. 1). The research team also took into …show more content…
1). This study also investigated the impact of tDCS on the performance of working memory. During the study, researchers investigated the effect on an individuals n-back task performance while simultaneously receiving stimulation to the left DLPFC (Zaehle, 2011, pg. 1). The procedure of the n-back task include participants viewing a black screen that displayed a series of white letters. Each white letter was shown for 500ms with an interval of 2s between each letter. Participants were instructed to respond whether the current letter shown was identical to the letter shown n (# of) trials ago (Zaehle, 2011, pg. 4). Participants indicated if the letter matched by pushing the right button, otherwise pressing the left button if the image didn’t match. While reviewing this study, it becomes apparent that the n-back test is an effective method for investigating human memory. Other experiments involving the investigation of memory have also utilized this exact n-back task. The experiments results revealed that tDCS modulated WM performance by changing the underlying oscillatory brain activity. The researchers observed an increase in WM performance and amplified oscillatory power in the theta and alpha bands after anodal tDCS whereas cathodal tDCS interfered with WM performance and decreased oscillatory power in the theta and alpha bands under posterior
The primary reason for the proposed research to be conducted is to reveal whether or not tDCS can truly enhance human working memory. …show more content…
Both disorders generally characterized by the dysfunction of cortical areas that are involved in memory. tDCS applies a weak electrical current to the brain area of interest via electrodes. The stimulation applied causes a modulation of neural oscillations in the brain area stimulated. These oscillations cause long lasting plastic effects involving synaptic modification, which is also known as neuroplasticity. Past studies have revealed that certain memory functions improve when tDCS is applied subjects dorsolateral prefrontal cortex..
In the research conducted by Rossi Simone and his colleagues, their research team aimed to investigate episodic memory (Rossi, 2006, pg. 1). Episodic memory involves the encoding and retrieval of unique events associated with the context in which the events occurred. The researchers primary focus was to stimulate either the left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC); both hemispheres responsible for a different aspect of episodic memory. During the experiment each of the two prefrontal hemispheres were targeted separately during each trial (Rossi, 2006, pg. 1). The research team also took into …show more content…
1). This study also investigated the impact of tDCS on the performance of working memory. During the study, researchers investigated the effect on an individuals n-back task performance while simultaneously receiving stimulation to the left DLPFC (Zaehle, 2011, pg. 1). The procedure of the n-back task include participants viewing a black screen that displayed a series of white letters. Each white letter was shown for 500ms with an interval of 2s between each letter. Participants were instructed to respond whether the current letter shown was identical to the letter shown n (# of) trials ago (Zaehle, 2011, pg. 4). Participants indicated if the letter matched by pushing the right button, otherwise pressing the left button if the image didn’t match. While reviewing this study, it becomes apparent that the n-back test is an effective method for investigating human memory. Other experiments involving the investigation of memory have also utilized this exact n-back task. The experiments results revealed that tDCS modulated WM performance by changing the underlying oscillatory brain activity. The researchers observed an increase in WM performance and amplified oscillatory power in the theta and alpha bands after anodal tDCS whereas cathodal tDCS interfered with WM performance and decreased oscillatory power in the theta and alpha bands under posterior