Further insights into the efficacy and moderators of transcranial alternating current stimulation for working memory

Core Tip

Core Tip: The meta-analysis by Hou et al on theta-band transcranial alternating current stimulation (theta-tACS) for working memory in healthy adults reveals a complex picture. An initial moderate effect was nullified after correcting for significant publication bias, urging caution in interpreting efficacy. However, the study's key contribution lies in its detailed moderator analysis. It found that theta-tACS significantly enhances performance on N-back tasks, but not delayed match-to-sample tasks. Furthermore, the effectiveness in N-back tasks was moderated by stimulation parameters like frequency (fixed > personalized) and duration. These nuanced findings are crucial for designing future, more targeted transcranial alternating current stimulation protocols for both cognitive enhancement and potential clinical applications in psychiatric disorders with working memory deficits.