Os, Koen van (2025) Neuromodulation of Attention in Reading: The Effect of Alpha Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Eye Movement Rhythmicity. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Alpha-band neural oscillations (8–12 Hz) have been implicated in attentional control and eye movement timing during reading. Recent evidence suggests saccadic eye movements may align with the phase of alpha oscillations, particularly in the right parietal-occipital cortex. This study investigated whether transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at alpha frequency can enhance the rhythmicity of eye movements during natural reading. Eighteen participants read sentences while receiving either left, right, or sham alpha-tACS in a within-subjects design. Eye movement rhythmicity was operationalized as the coefficient of variation (CV) of first fixation durations (FFDs). While the study replicated the expected slowing effect of the moving window paradigm, alpha-tACS did not significantly alter FFD variability compared to sham. The results suggest that fixed-frequency alpha-tACS does not reliably modulate eye movement rhythmicity in reading tasks. Potential explanations include insufficient stimulation intensity, lack of frequency individualization, or strong intrinsic alpha entrainment during reading. These findings emphasize the need for individualized stimulation protocols and highlight the complex interaction between neuromodulation and cognitive processes.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Dimigen, O.C. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jul 2025 09:12 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jul 2025 09:12 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5739 |
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