Day Three
How Does tACS Work?
What is tACS?
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technology capable of modulating the neurophysiological activity of the user, and has been shown to produce a wide range of cognitive effects, including working memory, attention, and learning ability. (1,2,3,4,5) tACS modulates the brain’s electrical activity through both entrainment and resonance effects, having been found to shift the frequency, phase and power of neuronal firing in vivo, in vitro and in computational models. (6,7,8) tACS is thought to produce these effects by altering the likelihood of neuronal firing in an oscillatory pattern, thereby recruiting a larger population of neurons into task-relevant rhythmic firing networks, increasing the oscillations’ power and augmenting the network activity. (6,7,9) HUMM has used this technology to develop Edge, and to boost cognitive ability just minutes after the start of stimulation. Read more in the HUMM White Paper.
The Boost
The brain is a complex and messy electrical circuit, with billions of neurons communicating with each other using electricity. When large groups of neurons fire together, they produce electrical patterns called brainwaves. These brainwaves represent highly organized electrical activity and different patterns emerge depending on the task being performed. (6,10) For example, brainwaves recorded during a difficult cognitive task differ dramatically from those responsible for a relaxing activity such as deep meditation. (11,12,13) There are multiple types of brainwaves, including alpha waves, beta waves, and gamma waves, as well as theta waves, the current focus of HUMM and Edge.
HUMM’s focus on using Edge to boost theta waves is derivative of these brainwaves’ demonstrated involvement in cognitive tasks such as memory encoding and retrieval. (11) Theta waves are known to increase in power along with the demand of a task on your memory. (12) Edge uses tACS to produce a small electrical field that fine tunes the natural electrical activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the area of your brain involved in higher-level processes like decision making and problem solving. (6,7,8) Specifically, the stimulation delivered by Edge recruits more PFC neurons into a similar firing pattern, and amplifies signals known as frontal midline theta (FMT), boosting the electrical activity critical for working memory. (6,7,9) The augmentation of working memory, among other cognitive abilities, by using tACS to increase the rhythmic FMT waves is well documented. (1,2,3,4,5)
Takeaway
tACS has incredible capabilities to augment our cognitive abilities. HUMM has developed the Edge headset to realize this technology’s potential and augment the user’s working memory. Use Edge for 15 minutes during study or work for an immediate and measurable boost that lasts for over an hour. (3,13,14,15)
