Causal Role of the Aperiodic Signal for Working Memory

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-03-25

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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Working memory (WM) is the ability to hold relevant information in mind in the absence of sensory input. The capacity for WM is a foundation for cognitive control and higher cognitive function more broadly. Previous research demonstrated that during the delay period of WM tasks, oscillatory electrical activity in the prefrontal cortex in the theta-frequency band (4-8 Hz) increased in amplitude. However, other groups found that the slope of the aperiodic signal in the brain was positively correlated with individual differences in WM capacity. Since low-frequency power and a steeper slope of the aperiodic signal are confounded in many analyses, it is not clear whether the slope of the aperiodic signal or the amplitude of low-frequency oscillations underlie WM capacity. With many studies investigating the causal role of theta oscillations in WM, the purpose of this project is to investigate the role of the aperiodic signal in WM performance.

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Detailed Description

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The experiment comprises two experimental sessions. The first session serves as a baseline session where electroencephalography (EEG) is recorded during working memory (WM) task performance. The difficulty of the task is titrated to the individual participant and they are familiarized with the task. In the second session, the participant receives each type of transcranial random aperiodic stimulation (tRAS): steep-tRAS, flat-tRAS, sham-tRAS. Stimulation is delivered in one of these three waveforms for each block while the participant performs the WM task. The type of stimulation that is received is balanced, randomized, and intermixed by block. This study is double-blinded such that the participant and the researcher are not aware of what type of stimulation is being delivered. Each block is approximately 5 minutes and twelve total blocks are collected with stimulation. The type of tRAS for that block (steep-tRAS, flat-tRAS, or sham-tRAS) is started just prior to the beginning of the task block and ramps down at the end of the task block. For each task block, the tRAS takes 15 seconds to ramp up at the beginning and 15 seconds to ramp down at the conclusion of the task block. In total, the participant receives approximately 60 minutes of stimulation, which is approximately 20 minutes of each type of stimulation. Following each task block, participants stare at a fixation cross and relax without stimulation. This "resting-state" EEG recording is used to assess the aftereffects of tRAS on brain activity. The first session will take 2 hours to complete and the second session will take 3 hours to complete.

Conditions

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Executive Dysfunction

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

All participants receive all three types of transcranial random aperiodic stimulation (tRAS): steep-tRAS, flat-tRAS, and sham-tRAS. The type of stimulation received is randomized and intermixed for each task block lasting approximately 5 minutes. The participant receives 12 task blocks, each with one of the stimulation types that are randomized, intermixed, and balanced for order.

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

This study is double-blinded at the level of "runs" within a single session. Participants and the researchers at the time of stimulation are unaware of which type of stimulation the participant will receive for each block. This is accomplished using randomization codes maintained within the computer. Furthermore, this study utilizes an active sham stimulation. This means that the active sham condition includes some stimulation, mimicking the skin sensations associated with tRAS. Participants receive all three types of stimulation in a single session over twelve five-minute blocks with an intermixed, balanced, and randomized order.

Study Groups

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Steep-tRAS,

Transcranial random aperiodic stimulation (tRAS) delivers 1 milliampere (mA) zero-to-peak amplitude at the target electrodes and 2 mA at the return electrode. The condition of interest, steep-tRAS, mimics a steep slope of the aperiodic signal characterized by greater low relative to high frequency power. Participants receive all three types of stimulation in an intermixed, balanced, and randomized order. There are twelve total blocks of approximately five minutes of stimulation with four blocks of each type of stimulation.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL