Rhythmic sensory stimulation as a noninvasive tool to study plasticity mechanisms in human episodic memory

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2024.101412
• Publication Date: 2024-05-29T15:42:01Z
• Authors: Danying Wang; Eleonora Marcantoni; Andrew Clouter; Kimron L Shapiro; Simon Hanslmayr
• Keywords: Sensory stimulation therapy

In recent years, research in animals has increasingly focused on understanding the role of precise neural timing inducing synaptic plasticity (the strengthening or weakening connections). Human episodic memory is thought to depend such plasticity. Animal studies have provided valuable insights into mechanisms as spike-timing-dependent and theta-phase-dependent plasticity, highlighting importance coordinated between inputs for changes occur. Building upon these findings, employing rhythmic sensory stimulation electromagnetic humans attempted link formation. These revealed that consolidation relies co-ordination inputs, particularly gamma theta frequency ranges. This body work represents a crucial bridge our cellular-level animal models complex processes underlying human memory.