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Uncertainty and Promise: the Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Working Memory

  • Neuromodulation (S Taylor, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Working memory (WM) is an essential neuropsychological system that supports complex cognitive processes. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) uses electrical current to modulate brain activity and may serve as a tool for studying or even enhancing WM. Here, we review the recent research that has explored the effects of tDCS on WM in healthy young adults, older adults, and patient populations. We also discuss several recent meta-analyses that have examined the efficacy of tDCS as a WM intervention. While a majority of the papers reviewed suggest that tDCS can modulate WM, this effect is highly inconsistent. These seemingly conflicting results may be driven by differences in study design, tDCS protocol, or inter-individual differences. Future research should systematically vary stimulation parameters, combine tDCS with neuroimaging, and account for individual differences in order to accurately assess the value of tDCS as a way to study and enhance WM.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 530 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Tiffany K. Jantz, Ben Katz & Patricia A. Reuter-Lorenz

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Jantz, T.K., Katz, B. & Reuter-Lorenz, P.A. Uncertainty and Promise: the Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Working Memory. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 3, 109–121 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40473-016-0071-8

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