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Low frequency transcranial electrical stimulation does not entrain sleep rhythms measured by human intracranial recordings

Author

Listed:
  • Belen Lafon

    (City College of New York)

  • Simon Henin

    (New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
    New York University School of Medicine)

  • Yu Huang

    (City College of New York)

  • Daniel Friedman

    (New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
    New York University School of Medicine)

  • Lucia Melloni

    (New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
    New York University School of Medicine
    Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics)

  • Thomas Thesen

    (New York University School of Medicine
    St. George’s University)

  • Werner Doyle

    (New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
    Department of Neurosurgery NYU School of Medicine)

  • György Buzsáki

    (New York University School of Medicine
    New York University Neuroscience Institute)

  • Orrin Devinsky

    (New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
    New York University School of Medicine)

  • Lucas C. Parra

    (City College of New York)

  • Anli Liu

    (New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
    New York University School of Medicine)

Abstract

Transcranial electrical stimulation has widespread clinical and research applications, yet its effect on ongoing neural activity in humans is not well established. Previous reports argue that transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can entrain and enhance neural rhythms related to memory, but the evidence from non-invasive recordings has remained inconclusive. Here, we measure endogenous spindle and theta activity intracranially in humans during low-frequency tACS and find no stable entrainment of spindle power during non-REM sleep, nor of theta power during resting wakefulness. As positive controls, we find robust entrainment of spindle activity to endogenous slow-wave activity in 66% of electrodes as well as entrainment to rhythmic noise-burst acoustic stimulation in 14% of electrodes. We conclude that low-frequency tACS at common stimulation intensities neither acutely modulates spindle activity during sleep nor theta activity during waking rest, likely because of the attenuated electrical fields reaching the cortical surface.

Suggested Citation

  • Belen Lafon & Simon Henin & Yu Huang & Daniel Friedman & Lucia Melloni & Thomas Thesen & Werner Doyle & György Buzsáki & Orrin Devinsky & Lucas C. Parra & Anli Liu, 2017. "Low frequency transcranial electrical stimulation does not entrain sleep rhythms measured by human intracranial recordings," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01045-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01045-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Anli A. Liu & Simon Henin & Saman Abbaspoor & Anatol Bragin & Elizabeth A. Buffalo & Jordan S. Farrell & David J. Foster & Loren M. Frank & Tamara Gedankien & Jean Gotman & Jennifer A. Guidera & Kari , 2022. "A consensus statement on detection of hippocampal sharp wave ripples and differentiation from other fast oscillations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.

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