PI: Herrmann; Collaborator: Witt
Prior studies have shown changes in oscillatory activity in the beta, gamma and theta range in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Theta activity originating from medial prefrontal cortex has been tightly linked to interference control. First evidence points to reduced theta oscillations in a cognitive control task in Parkinson’s disease patients and changes in anterior cingulate dopamine metabolism which may contribute to dysexecutive behavior. Oscillatory brain activity can be modulated by transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). In young, healthy volunteers we have previously used tACS to up-regulate theta oscillations. In this PhD project, we plan to use a widely used visual go/no-go paradigm which reliably evokes theta responses. In different experimental conditions, theta will either be up- or down-regulated in healthy humans by tACS to demonstrate that up- and downregulated theta oscillations in fact make behavior better and worse, respectively. If successful, a second study will apply theta-tACS in Parkinson’s disease patients in cooperation with PI Witt.
Contact: christoph.herrmann@uni-oldenburg.de