Abstract
Background
Left frontal alpha oscillations are associated with decreased approach motivation
and have been proposed as a target for noninvasive brain stimulation for the treatment
of depression and anhedonia. Indeed, transcranial alternating current stimulation
(tACS) at the alpha frequency reduced left frontal alpha power and was associated
with a higher response rate than placebo stimulation in patients with major depressive
disorder (MDD) in a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Methods
In this current study, we aimed to replicate successful target engagement by delineating
the effects of a single session of bifrontal tACS at the individualized alpha frequency
(IAF-tACS) on alpha oscillations in patients with MDD. Eighty-four participants were
randomized to receive verum or sham IAF-tACS. Electrical brain activity was recorded
during rest and while viewing emotionally salient images before and after stimulation
to investigate whether the modulation of alpha oscillation by tACS exhibited specificity
with regard to valence.
Results
In agreement with the previous study of tACS in MDD, we found that a single session
of bifrontal IAF-tACS reduced left frontal alpha power during the resting state when
compared with placebo. Furthermore, the reduction of left frontal alpha oscillation
by tACS was specific for stimuli with positive valence. In contrast, these effects
on left frontal alpha power were not found in healthy control participants.
Conclusions
Together, these results support an important role of tACS in reducing left frontal
alpha oscillations as a future treatment for MDD.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 14, 2021
Accepted:
July 7,
2021
Received in revised form:
June 21,
2021
Received:
April 12,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.