Neurolinguists at HSE University tested the effectiveness of the transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) method for memorizing words and found no improvements compared to placebo.
The experiment involved 30 volunteers who were asked to learn 80 fictional words matched with real Russian nouns. During the training, the researchers activated the left frontotemporal areas of the brain—areas associated with memory and speech—using alternating current that mimicked the brain's theta rhythms. Then, the same experiment was conducted without stimulation, and the results were compared.
The analysis showed that the use of tACS did not improve the subjects' ability to memorize new words. According to scientists, the lack of effect may be due to the complex neural organization of memorization—this process involves not only the cortex but also deep brain structures, such as the hippocampus, which are difficult to reach with superficial stimulation.
However, the researchers do not rule out that using other brain areas or changing the current parameters may yield different results. Such approaches may form the basis for methods of accelerated language learning or restorative therapy after strokes and traumatic brain injuries in the future.
The data obtained underscore the importance of critically analyzing neurostimulation technologies and the need for further research to assess their real effectiveness.
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