Exploring The Instant Effect Of Electroacupuncture And Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation On Working Memory In Healthy Subjects

ObjectiveWorking memory which is the combination of attention, concentration and short-term memory is very closely related to our daily life. The decline of working memory function may result in the impairment of cognitive function. Based on the literature review:transcranial direct current stimulation can improve working memory. In recent years, many clinical studies have confirmed that electroacupuncture can improve the symptoms of cognitive impairment of cognitive function disorder in the near future, especially improve the ability of memory. But now very few studies have reported that electroacupuncture can improve working memory. This study investigates the working memory performance in healthy subjects and whether electroacupuncture and transcranial direct current stimulation can improve it immediately.MethodsThe study has gained the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Y2015-02-01).This is a before-after study to compare the different experiment sessions in parallel on the same subjects.44 healthy participants who met inclusion criteria and had informed consent right were recruited. All of them undertook two experiment sessions in which they received 20 min of electroacupuncture and tDCS. Experimental sessions were separated by a minimum of 1 week. Immediately prior to and after each stimulation session the participants were measured on speed and accuracy of performance on an n-back task.ResultsThere was no significant improvement in speed and accuracy of performance following the stimulation both of electroacupuncture and tDCS on 0-back and 1-back WM task. But we found that there was significant improvement in speed of performance following tDCS on the 2-back WM task, and this was the only significant finding.ConclusionThe results do not provide support for the hypothesis that electroacupuncture improves working memory immediately. However, the study does provide confirmation of previous findings that tDCS enhances some aspects of DLPFC functioning. Methodological limitations that may have contributed to the lack of significant findings following electroacupuncture are discussed.