Targeting the frontoparietal network using bifocal transcranial alternating current stimulation during a motor sequence learning task in healthy older adults

Abstract

Background: Healthy older adults show a decrease in motor performance and motor learning capacity as well as in working memory (WM) performance. WM has been suggested to be involved in motor learning processes, such as sequence learning. Correlational evidence has shown the involvement of the frontoparietal network (FPN), a network underlying WM processes, in motor sequence learning. However, causal evidence is currently lacking. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) studies have focused so far predominantly on motor-related areas to enhance motor sequence learning while areas associated with more cognitive aspects of motor learning have not yet been addressed.

Hypothesis: In this study, we aim to provide causal evidence for the involvement of WM processes and the underlying FPN in the successful performance of a motor sequence learning task by using theta transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) targeting the FPN during a motor sequence learning task.

Methods: In a cohort of 20 healthy older adults, we applied bifocal tACS in the theta range to the FPN during a sequence learning task. With the use of a double-blind, cross-over design, we tested the efficacy of active compared to sham stimulation. Two versions of the motor task were used: one with high and one with low WM load, to explore the efficacy of stimulation on tasks differing in WM demand. Additionally, the effects of stimulation on WM performance were addressed using an N-back task. The tACS frequency was personalized by means of EEG measuring the individual theta peak frequency during the N-back task.

Results: The application of personalized theta tACS to the FPN improved performance during the motor sequence learning task with high WM load (p < .001), but not with low WM load. Active stimulation significantly improved both speed (p < .001), and accuracy (p = .03) during the task with high WM load. In addition, the stimulation paradigm improved performance on the N-back task for the 2-back task (p = .013), but not for 1-back and 3-back.

Conclusion: The performance during a motor sequence learning task can be enhanced by means of personalized bifocal theta tACS to the FPN when WM load is high, indicating that the efficacy of this stimulation paradigm is dependent on the cognitive demand during the learning task. These data provide further causal evidence for the critical involvement of WM processes and the FPN during the execution of a motor sequence learning task in healthy older. These findings open new exciting possibilities to counteract the age-related decline in motor performance, learning capacity and WM performance.

Keywords: Fronto-parietal network; Healthy aging; Motor learning; Personalization; Working memory; tACS.