Transcranial electrical stimulation during sleep enhances declarative (but not procedural) memory consolidation: Evidence from a meta-analysis. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barham, Michael P.; Enticott, Peter G.; Conduit, Russell; Lum, Jarrad A.G.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 63(2016)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 77
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Meta-analysis -- Transcranial electrical stimulation -- Sleep -- Declarative memory -- Procedural memory -- Consolidation; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.01.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Sleep plays an important role in memory consolidation. A meta-analysis examined whether transcranial electric stimulation (TES) administered during sleep can modulate memory consolidation. Research indicates TES can enhance and disrupt declarative memory consolidation. The evidence does not indicate TES can enhance or disrupt procedural memory consolidation. Data from TES research suggest dissociable mechanisms that underpin declarative and procedural memory consolidation. Abstract: This meta-analysis summarizes research examining whether transcranial electrical stimulation (transcranial direct current stimulation with oscillating and constant currents; transcranial alternating current stimulation), administered during sleep, can modulate declarative and procedural memory consolidation. Included in the meta-analysis were 13 experiments that represented data from 179 participants. Study findings were summarized using standardized mean difference (SMD) which is an effect size that summarizes differences in standard deviation units. Results showed electrical stimulation during sleep could enhance (SMD = 0.447; p = .003) or disrupt (SMD = −0.476, p = .030) declarative memory consolidation. However, transcranial electric stimulation does not appear to be able to enhance (SMD = 0.154, p = .279) or disrupt (SMD = 0.076, p = .675) procedural memory consolidation. This meta-analysis provides strong evidence that TES is able to modulate some consolidation processes. Additional research is required to determine the mechanisms by which transcranial electrical stimulation is able to influence declarative memory consolidation. Finally, it is yet to be determined whether transcranial electrical stimulation can modulate procedural memory consolidation.