Transcranial Stimulation of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Prevents Stress-Induced Working Memory Deficits

Abstract

Stress is known to impair working memory performance. This disruptive effect of stress on working memory has been linked to a decrease in the activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). In the present experiment, we tested whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the dlPFC can prevent stress-induced working memory impairments. We tested 120 healthy participants in a 2 d, sham-controlled, double-blind between-subjects design. Participants completed a test of their individual baseline working memory capacity on day 1. On day 2, participants were exposed to either a stressor or a control manipulation before they performed a visuospatial and a verbal working memory task. While participants completed the tasks, anodal, cathodal, or sham tDCS was applied over the right dlPFC. Stress impaired working memory performance in both tasks, albeit to a lesser extent in the verbal compared with the visuospatial working memory task. This stress-induced working memory impairment was prevented by anodal, but not sham or cathodal, stimulation of the dlPFC. Compared with sham or cathodal stimulation, anodal tDCS led to significantly better working memory performance in both tasks after stress. Our findings indicate a causal role of the dlPFC in working memory impairments after acute stress and point to anodal tDCS as a promising tool to reduce cognitive deficits related to working memory in stress-related mental disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Memory under stress: from single systems to network changes

“…The stimulation or inhibition of central nodes in the network may allow the strengthening of desired or weakening of adverse influences of stress on memory. For instance, a recent study showed that transcranial direct current stimulation over the dorsolateral PFC may attenuate stress-induced working memory deficits (Bogdanov & Schwabe, 2016). Yet, despite these promising data and the advances made in our understanding of how stress changes learning and memory, we are still rather at the beginning and many open questions remain.…”

Neural correlates of newsvendor-based decision making in the human brain:An exploratory study to link neuroeconomics with neuroimaging using fNIRS

“…Since BA 45 (i.e., Broca's area) has a function of modulating emotional response besides language process, it is reasonable to observe strong activation in this cortical area in response to the LM tasks. The reason for strong r-DLPFC deactivation may be attributed to intense stress due to more difficult decision-making challenges 24,25 . Although OFC is expected to have strong response in this case because it plays a key role in decision making involving reward, the observation in our study was beyond our expectation.…”

“…For example, an fMRI study involving 27 subjects suggested that deactivation in r-DLPFC may occur due to acute stress which weakens high-level cognitive functions such as working memory 27 . In addition, a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) based study with 120 participants showed that tDCS delivered on the r-DLPFC can prevent stressinduced working memory deficits 24 . In our study, the NP with the LM protocol was rather risky and a bit lengthy, subjecting the participants to higher levels of stress.…”

Does gender influence cognitive function in non-psychotic depression?

“…Estrogens modulate serotonergic/catecholamine functioning; the activity of neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor; and dendritic branching and spine number within the amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, and prefrontal cortex [52]. Individuals with MDD exhibit structural and functional abnormalities in these regions that have been associated with both depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment [57][58][59][60][61][62][63]. Ovarian hormone fluctuations across the lifespan of a woman (e.g., premenstrual, post-partum, and perimenopausal phases) that are involved in the onset/course of depression in vulnerable women [53] may also negatively affect cognitive function through the recurrent withdrawal from neuroprotective and neuromodulatory activities of estrogens on these brain regions.…”