Research on the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation regulation of different targets on working memory based on electroencephalography_Journal of Biomedical Engineering

Authors：

FENG Jiawei ^1,2 , WU Yang ^1,2 , DOU Jiaxuan ^1,2 , HAO Man ^1,2 , LIANG Zhenhu ^1,2 ,  FU Lingdi ^1,2 ,  YIN Liyong ^3,4

1. Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei 066004, P. R. China;
2. Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Neural Information Processing, Ministry of Education, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei 066004, P. R. China;
3. Department of Neurology, Qinhuangdao First Hospital, Qinhuangdao, Hebei 066000, P. R. China;
4. School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei 066004, P. R. China;

Corresponding?author：

FU Lingdi, Email: lingdifu123@126.com; YIN Liyong, Email: yinliyong@ysu.edu.cn

Keywords：

Transcranial direct current stimulation; Working memory; Cognitive function; Brain network

DOI：

10.7507/1001-5515.202502008

Video：

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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that can modulate cortical neuronal excitability through scalp electrodes, thereby potentially enhancing cognitive function. However, to date, no specific stimulation targets have been identified in studies on tDCS for improving cognitive function. Previous research has suggested that the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and parietal-occipital regions (PO) of the human brain may be potential therapeutic targets. Based on this, the present study aims to compare the mechanisms of how tDCS affect working memory by modulating DLPFC and PO regions, providing empirical support for clinical application. According to different stimulation targets, the experiment was divided into DLPFC group, PO group and sham group in this study. A total of 20 participants were recruited to participate in the tDCS regulation trial. Each participant was randomly assigned to receive two types of stimuli, with a minimum interval of 3 days between each stimulus (a total of 40 stimuli). This study designed the "3-back " working memory task paradigm, calculated and analyzed the reaction time (RT) and accuracy (AC) of three groups of subjects in cognitive tasks before and after receiving tDCS regulation. This study collected resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from three groups of subjects before and after regulation, and compared and analyzed the autocorrelation of each brain functional area, the cross-correlation between different brain functional regions, and the corresponding network topology characteristics. The results showed that after regulation, for subjects in the DLPFC group and PO group, the AC increased and RT decreased, with the DLPFC group demonstrating better effects. Additionally, DLPFC stimulation could enhance the autocorrelation and cross-brain connectivity of targets and related brain regions in the theta and beta frequency bands, and improve the clustering coefficient and local efficiency of brain regions in these frequency bands. However, PO stimulation and sham stimulation had no such effects. This study confirms that tDCS stimulation of DLPFC can improve cognitive function by enhancing the network connectivity of brain regions related to the theta and beta frequency bands, providing experimental evidence and theoretical support for the clinical rehabilitation of brain cognitive dysfunction using tDCS.

Citation： FENG Jiawei, WU Yang, DOU Jiaxuan, HAO Man, LIANG Zhenhu, FU Lingdi, YIN Liyong. Research on the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation regulation of different targets on working memory based on electroencephalography. Journal of Biomedical Engineering, 2026, 43(1): 17-25. doi: 10.7507/1001-5515.202502008 Copy

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15.	劉權輝, 周天翔, 劉偉志, 等. 經顱直流電刺激與工作記憶訓練對軍校醫學生抑制功能的影響. 第二軍醫大學學報, 2021, 42(4): 457-460.
16.	郭婭美, 焦學軍, 姜勁, 等. 基于經顱直流電刺激的心理旋轉能力增強研究. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2021, 38(4): 630-637.
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18.	白玉龍, 狄海波, 侯文生, 等. 經顱直流電刺激聯合認知訓練治療早期阿爾茨海默病專家共識. 康復學報, 2025: 1-12.
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21.	Powell T Y, Boonstra T W, Martin D M, et al. Modulation of cortical activity by transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with affective disorder. PLoS One, 2014, 9(6): e98503.
22.	Rubinov M, Sporns O. Complex network measures of brain connectivity: uses and interpretations. NeuroImage, 2010, 52(3): 1059-1069.
23.	Vinck M, Oostenveld R, van Wingerden M, et al. An improved index of phase-synchronization for electrophysiological data in the presence of volume-conduction, noise and sample-size bias. NeuroImage, 2011, 55(4): 1548-1565.
24.	Parlar M, Densmore M, Hall G B, et al. Relation between patterns of intrinsic network connectivity, cognitive functioning, and symptom presentation in trauma-exposed patients with major depressive disorder. Brain and Behavior, 2017, 7(5): e00664.
25.	Lin P, Yang Y, Gao J, et al. Dynamic default mode network across different brain states. Scientific Reports, 2017, 7: 46088.
26.	Flores-Gallegos R, Fernández T, Alcauter S, et al. Functional connectivity is linked to working memory differences in children with reading learning disability. BMC Pediatrics, 2024, 24(1): 318.
27.	Ramírez-Barrantes R, Arancibia M, Stojanova J, et al. Default mode network, meditation, and age-associated brain changes: what can we learn from the impact of mental training on well-being as a psychotherapeutic approach?. Neural Plasticity, 2019, 2019: 7067592.
28.	Keeser D, Meindl T, Bor J, et al. Prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation changes connectivity of resting-state networks during fMRI. J Neurosci, 2011, 31(43): 15284-15293.
29.	Wang Y, Zhou X, Peng X, et al. Task switching involves working memory: evidence from neural representation. Frontiers in Psychology, 2022, 13: 1003298.
30.	Li B, Li X, Stoet G, et al. Processing speed predicts mean performance in task-switching but not task-switching cost. Psychological Reports, 2023, 126(4): 1822-1846.
31.	Yeung N, Nystrom L E, Aronson J A, et al. Between-task competition and cognitive control in task switching. J Neurosci, 2006, 26(5): 1429-1438.

1. Salvadori E, Pasi M, Poggesi A, et al. Predictive value of MoCA in the acute phase of stroke on the diagnosis of mid-term cognitive impairment. Journal of Neurology, 2013, 260(9): 2220-2227.
2. Hoffmann T, Bennett S, Koh C L, et al. Occupational therapy for cognitive impairment in stroke patients. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2010, 2010(9): CD006430.
3. The Lancet. A global assessment of dementia, now and in the future. The Lancet, 2015, 386(9997): 931.
4. Sengupta R. Modeling visual working memory using recurrent on-center off-surround neural network with distance dependent inhibition. Scientific Reports, 2025, 15(1): 23000.
5. Wager T D, Smith E E. Neuroimaging studies of working memory: a meta-analysis. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci, 2003, 3(4): 255-274.
6. Owen A M, McMillan K M, Laird A R, et al. N-back working memory paradigm: a meta-analysis of normative functional neuroimaging studies. Human Brain Mapping, 2005, 25(1): 46-59.
7. Ferrucci R, Ruggiero F, Mameli F, et al. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Humana Press, 2023: 339-365.
8. Hamada M, Strigaro G, Murase N, et al. Cerebellar modulation of human associative plasticity. The Journal of Physiology, 2012, 590(10): 2365-2374.
9. Smit M, Schutter D J, Nijboer T C, et al. Transcranial direct current stimulation to the parietal cortex in hemispatial neglect: a feasibility study. Neuropsychologia, 2015, 74: 152-161.
10. Adair D, Truong D, Esmaeilpour Z, et al. Electrical stimulation of cranial nerves in cognition and disease. Brain Stimulation, 2020, 13(3): 717-750.
11. Friehs M A, Frings C. Evidence against combined effects of stress and brain stimulation on working memory. Open Psychology, 2020, 2(1): 40-56.
12. Gill J, Shah-Basak P P, Hamilton R. It's the thought that counts: examining the task-dependent effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on executive function. Brain Stimulation, 2015, 8(2): 253-259.
13. Hill A T, Rogasch N C, Fitzgerald P B, et al. Effects of prefrontal bipolar and high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on cortical reactivity and working memory in healthy adults. NeuroImage, 2017, 152: 142-157.
14. Duerler P, Brem S, Fraga-González G, et al. Psilocybin induces aberrant prediction error processing of tactile mismatch responses-a simultaneous EEG-FMRI study. Cerebral Cortex, 2021, 32(1): 186-196.
15. 劉權輝, 周天翔, 劉偉志, 等. 經顱直流電刺激與工作記憶訓練對軍校醫學生抑制功能的影響. 第二軍醫大學學報, 2021, 42(4): 457-460.
16. 郭婭美, 焦學軍, 姜勁, 等. 基于經顱直流電刺激的心理旋轉能力增強研究. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2021, 38(4): 630-637.
17. Fan Z, Xi X, Wang T, et al. Effect of tDCS on corticomuscular coupling and the brain functional network of stroke patients. Med Biol Eng Comput, 2023, 61(12): 3303-3317.
18. 白玉龍, 狄海波, 侯文生, 等. 經顱直流電刺激聯合認知訓練治療早期阿爾茨海默病專家共識. 康復學報, 2025: 1-12.
19. Brainard H D. The psychophysics toolbox. Spatial Vision, 1997, 10(4): 433-436.
20. Kappenman E S, Farrens J L, Zhang W, et al. ERP CORE: an open resource for human event-related potential research. NeuroImage, 2021, 225: 117465.
21. Powell T Y, Boonstra T W, Martin D M, et al. Modulation of cortical activity by transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with affective disorder. PLoS One, 2014, 9(6): e98503.
22. Rubinov M, Sporns O. Complex network measures of brain connectivity: uses and interpretations. NeuroImage, 2010, 52(3): 1059-1069.
23. Vinck M, Oostenveld R, van Wingerden M, et al. An improved index of phase-synchronization for electrophysiological data in the presence of volume-conduction, noise and sample-size bias. NeuroImage, 2011, 55(4): 1548-1565.
24. Parlar M, Densmore M, Hall G B, et al. Relation between patterns of intrinsic network connectivity, cognitive functioning, and symptom presentation in trauma-exposed patients with major depressive disorder. Brain and Behavior, 2017, 7(5): e00664.
25. Lin P, Yang Y, Gao J, et al. Dynamic default mode network across different brain states. Scientific Reports, 2017, 7: 46088.
26. Flores-Gallegos R, Fernández T, Alcauter S, et al. Functional connectivity is linked to working memory differences in children with reading learning disability. BMC Pediatrics, 2024, 24(1): 318.
27. Ramírez-Barrantes R, Arancibia M, Stojanova J, et al. Default mode network, meditation, and age-associated brain changes: what can we learn from the impact of mental training on well-being as a psychotherapeutic approach?. Neural Plasticity, 2019, 2019: 7067592.
28. Keeser D, Meindl T, Bor J, et al. Prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation changes connectivity of resting-state networks during fMRI. J Neurosci, 2011, 31(43): 15284-15293.
29. Wang Y, Zhou X, Peng X, et al. Task switching involves working memory: evidence from neural representation. Frontiers in Psychology, 2022, 13: 1003298.
30. Li B, Li X, Stoet G, et al. Processing speed predicts mean performance in task-switching but not task-switching cost. Psychological Reports, 2023, 126(4): 1822-1846.
31. Yeung N, Nystrom L E, Aronson J A, et al. Between-task competition and cognitive control in task switching. J Neurosci, 2006, 26(5): 1429-1438.

Journal of Biomedical Engineering

Research on the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation regulation of different targets on working memory based on electroencephalography

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