Neurocognitive, physiological, and biophysical effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation

Published on December 20, 2022

Just like the ebb and flow of waves on a beach, the balance between excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the brain creates rhythmic neural oscillations. These oscillations play a vital role in various physiological and behavioral processes that shape our perception, movement, and thinking abilities. Abnormal patterns of these brain waves have been linked to psychiatric and neurological disorders, sparking interest in finding ways to externally modulate them for research and therapy purposes. Researchers are now diving into the world of transcranial alternating current stimulation to investigate its potential for controlling neural oscillations. By manipulating these electrical currents, scientists hope to gain insights into how they impact neurocognitive functions and uncover new ways to treat neurological conditions. This field of study opens up a shimmering sea of possibilities, promising breakthroughs that could revolutionize our understanding of the brain and how we can support its health and wellness.

The synchronous and periodically fluctuating balance between excitatory and inhibitory circuits of connected neuronal populations manifests as neural oscillations [1–3]. These rhythmic waves of brain activity drive multiple physiological and behavioral processes in the sensory, motor, and cognitive domains [4–9]. Further, abnormal oscillatory patterns have been observed in psychiatric and neurological disorders [10–14]. Thus, there is an increasing interest in developing tools to externally control neural oscillations for research and therapy.

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