RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Explaining and Predicting the Effects of Neurostimulation via Neuronal Excitation/Inhibition
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2022.04.29.489988
DO 10.1101/2022.04.29.489988
A1 Nienke E. R. van Bueren
A1 Sanne H. G. van der Ven
A1 Francesco Sella
A1 Roi Cohen Kadosh
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/05/01/2022.04.29.489988.abstract
AB Previous research has highlighted the role of the excitation/inhibition ratio (E/I) for typical and atypical development, mental health, cognition, and learning. Parallel research has highlighted the benefits of high-frequency random noise stimulation (tRNS)—an excitatory form of neurostimulation—on learning. We examined the E/I as a potential mechanism and whether tRNS effect on learning depends on E/I as measured by the aperiodic exponent. In addition to manipulating E/I using tRNS, we also manipulated the level of learning (learning/overlearning) that has been shown to influence E/I. One hundred and two participants received either sham stimulation or 20 min DLPFC tRNS during a mathematical learning task. We showed a lower aperiodic exponent, which reflects higher E/I, after tRNS, and that higher baseline aperiodic exponent, which reflects lower E/I, predicted greater benefit from tRNS specifically for the learning task. In contrast to previous MRS-based E/I studies, we found no effect of the learning manipulation on E/I. Our results highlight the role of E/I as a marker for neurostimulation efficacy and learning. This mechanistic understanding could provide stronger potential to augment learning. At the same time, we offer new insights on the quantification of E/I using EEG vs MRS to foster better theoretical understanding and its utilisation in future research.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.