Lamboy, Noah Jon de (2024) Investigating the Impact of Theta tACS on Resting State Networks in patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Graph Theory Study. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) presents a significant economic and social challenge, with the number of patients expected to rise in the coming decades. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between healthy cognitive aging and AD and has been identified as a critical window of opportunity to improve or retain cognitive functioning. Theta transcranial alternative current stimulation (tACS) has the potential to enhance cognitive functioning by improving brain network synchronization. However, the effects of tACS on disrupted brain network functioning in individuals with aMCI are largely unknown. To close this gap, the current study investigated the effects of theta tACS on resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) in individuals with aMCI using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The focus was on two networks involved in cognition that are affected by the pathophysiological disruptions associated with the dementing process, namely the Default Mode Network (DMN) and Frontoparietal Network (FPN). Patients with aMCI (N=47) were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: 6Hz theta tACS (n=12), individualized theta tACS (n=18), or sham tACS (n=17). Following ten consecutive days of fifteen-minute stimulation, pre- and post measurements of rs-FC graph theory metrics were compared. Results revealed no statistically significant differences in DMN and FPN rs-FC following theta tACS, indicating that the parameters tested in this study did not modulate functional connectivity in patients with aMCI. Alternative interpretations and limitations of the study as well as recommendations for future research are discussed. The results highlight the need to refine stimulation parameters and rs-FC analysis approaches to further investigate the neural underpinnings of tACS effects in the aMCI population.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Supervisor name: | Aleman, A. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Clinical Neuropsychology (CN) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Aug 2024 07:10 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Aug 2024 12:28 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4232 |
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