Enhancing verbal working memory by focalized tDCS

言语工作记忆是言语信息的暂时保存，是人类认知的一种关键能力，与成功、高效的日常交流尤为相关。这种能力通常会受到正常衰老以及神经和精神障碍的影响。计划中的项目将研究个性化的经颅直流电刺激(Tdcs)增强言语工作记忆的神经机制和预测因素。为此，我们将在健康志愿者中将个性化的tDCs与成熟的n-back范例相结合。我们将用先进的功能和有效的连通性测量以及图论方法来补充单变量功能神经成像分析，以绘制神经网络水平上刺激诱导的变化并将它们与行为变化联系起来。更好地了解调节性tdcs对言语工作记忆功能影响的神经基础，将有助于完善现有的言语工作记忆模型，并最终提高言语工作记忆缺陷个体的神经刺激方案的治疗效果。在更广泛的研究单位(RU)的背景下，本研究是研究tdcs对跨功能领域学习和记忆形成的影响(项目1-8)和健康人类寿命的八个项目之一。这些经验项目所追求的高度系统和协调的方法将使我们能够首次分析潜在的神经机制和行为刺激反应的预测因素，不仅在每个项目中，而且在不同的任务和功能领域(在项目9中)。本项目将提供关于tDCs如何调节言语工作记忆的独特信息，从而补充项目3(Pi Meinzer)中关于tDCs诱导的言语情景记忆形成的研究。总而言之，RU的经验项目的结果将增加我们目前对tdcs诱导的神经网络效应、其区域特异性、刺激效应个体间差异的潜在机制以及由于年龄段的潜在变化的理解。从方法学的角度来看，在这些项目中获得的数据将有助于优化和验证当前流动的生物物理模型(在P9+10)，从而推动未来tdcs在健康和疾病中的实验和翻译应用。

Verbal working memory, the temporary maintenance of verbal information, is a key capacity of human cognition which is particularly relevant for successful and efficient every-day communication. This faculty is often affected by normal aging and in neurological and psychiatric disorders. The planned project will investigate the neural mechanisms and predictors underlying enhancement of verbal working memory by individualized, focal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). To this end, we will combine individualized tDCS with a well-established n-back paradigm in healthy volunteers. We will complement univariate functional neuroimaging analyses with advanced functional and effective connectivity measures as well as graph theoretical approaches to map stimulation induced changes at the neural network level and relate them to behavioral changes. A better understanding of the neural underpinnings of modulatory tDCS effects on verbal working memory function will help to refine current models of verbal working memory and ultimately increase treatment efficacy of neurostimulation protocols in individuals with verbal working memory deficits.Within the broader context of the Research Unit (RU), the present study is one of eight projects investigating tDCS effects on learning and memory formation across functional domains (Projects 1-8) and the healthy human lifespan. The highly systematic and coordinated approach pursued by these empirical projects will allow for the first time analyzing the underlying neural mechanisms and predictors of behavioural stimulation response not only within each project, but also across the different tasks and functional domains (in Project 9).The current project will contribute unique information on how tDCS modulates verbal working memory, thereby complementing the investigation of tDCS-induced enhancement of verbal episodic memory formation in Project 3 (PI Meinzer). Collectively, the results of the empirical projects of the RU will increase our current understanding of tDCS-induced neural network effects, their regional specificity, the mechanisms underlying inter-individual variability of stimulation effects, and potential changes due to chronological age. From a methodological point of view, data acquired in these projects will contribute to optimizing and validating biophysical models of current flow (in P9+10), thereby advancing future experimental and translational applications of tDCS in health and disease.