Cited by 188Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation StudiesSleep and Wakefulness ResearchNeural dynamics and brain function

Transcranial electrical currents to probe EEG brain rhythms and memory consolidation during sleep in humans

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Marshall, Lisa, Kirov, Roumen, Brade, Julian, Mölle, Matthias, Born, Jan·2011·PLoS ONE

Abstract

Previously the application of a weak electric anodal current oscillating with a frequency of the sleep slow oscillation (∼0.75 Hz) during non-rapid eye movement sleep (NonREM) sleep boosted endogenous slow oscillation activity and enhanced sleep-associated memory consolidation. The slow oscillations occurring during NonREM sleep and theta oscillations present during REM sleep have been considered of critical relevance for memory formation. Here transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) oscillating at 5 Hz, i.e., within the theta frequency range (theta-tDCS) is applied during NonREM and REM sleep. Theta-tDCS during NonREM sleep produced a global decrease in slow oscillatory activity conjoint with a local reduction of frontal slow EEG spindle power (8-12 Hz) and a decrement in consolidation of declarative memory, underlining the relevance of these cortical oscillations for sleep-dependent memory consolidation. In contrast, during REM sleep theta-tDCS appears to increase global gamma (25-45 Hz) activity, indicating a clear brain state-dependency of theta-tDCS. More generally, results demonstrate the suitability of oscillating-tDCS as a tool to analyze functions of endogenous EEG rhythms and underlying endogenous electric fields as well as the interactions between EEG rhythms of different frequencies.

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Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pone.0016905

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  • Theta transcranial direct current stimulation applied during REM sleep increases fast beta/gamma EEG oscillations.

    “Marshall et al. (2011) found that theta transcranial direct current stimulation (theta-tDCS) applied during REM sleep increases fast beta/gamma EEG oscillations”

    From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Marshall et al., 2011

    The Results section reports that theta-tDCS during REM sleep strongly increased gamma (25–45 Hz) EEG power. It reports only a tendency toward an effect in the neighboring beta band (pairwise P = 0.053), so the claim overstates the evidence for a beta increase. The supplied passage has no page number. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The theta-tDCS condition was associated with worse mood on the morning after awakening from sleep compared to sham.

    “The theta-tDCS condition was associated with worse mood (i.e., as measured by Positive and Negative Affect Scale negative scores) on the morning after awakening from sleep, compared to sham”

    From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Marshall et al., 2011

    The Results section (‘Performance on psychometric and cognitive control tests,’ Table 4; page unavailable) reports a higher morning PANAS negative score after theta-tDCS than sham. The significant difference occurred only in the REM-sleep experiment; the claim omits that limitation. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The widespread increase in gamma activity with theta-tDCS provided evidence for the functional coupling between theta and gamma rhythms.

    “the widespread increase in gamma activity with theta-tDCS provided evidence for the functional coupling between these two rhythms”

    From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Marshall et al., 2011

  • tDCS at the 5 Hz theta frequency during early non-REM sleep had an immediate suppressing rather than enhancing effect on endogenous slow oscillation and frontal slow spindle activity, and impaired overnight retention of word pairs.

    “tDCS at the 5 Hz theta frequency during early non-REM sleep had an immediate suppressing rather than enhancing effect on endogenous slow oscillation and frontal slow spindle activity, and impaired overnight retention of word pairs (784).”

    From About Sleep's Role in Memory (2013) · cites this paper as [784]

  • tDCS oscillating at 5 Hz (theta-tDCS) decreased slow oscillation activity at all recording sites and slow frontal spindle activity, and these effects were associated with an impaired retention of declarative memory across sleep.

    “C:in contrast, tDCS oscillating at 5 Hz (theta-tDCS) decreased slow oscillation activity at all recording sites and slow frontal spindle activity, and these effects were associated with an impaired retention of declarative memory across sleep.”

    From About Sleep's Role in Memory (2013) · cites this paper as [784]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [25]Wechsler D 1997 Technical manual for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence and Memory Scale–Third Edition New York The Psychological Corporation

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Authors
Marshall, L., Kirov, R., Brade, J., Mölle, M., & Born, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Lübeck (DE)
  • Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BG)
Corresponding author
Marshall, Lisa
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2011-02-14
Volume
6
Issue
2
Pages
e16905
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1966385969
Cited by
188
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 12
FWCI
9.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB654)
  • Universität zu Lübeck
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
transcranial direct current stimulation, sleep slow oscillations, REM sleep, NREM sleep, memory consolidation, declarative memory, theta oscillations, gamma oscillations, EEG spindles, endogenous electric fields, sleep-dependent memory
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Biological Clocks, Brain, Electric Stimulation, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Neuropsychological Tests, Sleep, Task Performance and Analysis, Deep Brain Stimulation, Young Adult

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