Data from: Dual transcranial electromagnetic stimulation of the precuneus boosts human long-term memory
Data files
Oct 09, 2025 version files 74.65 KB
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EXP1_FNAT.xlsx
11.46 KB
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EXP1_STMB.xlsx
10 KB
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EXP2_FNAT.xlsx
10.05 KB
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EXP2_STMB.xlsx
8.98 KB
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EXP3_TMS-EEG.xlsx
16.88 KB
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EXP4_RM.xlsx
9.75 KB
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README.md
7.52 KB
Abstract
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have the potential to improve memory functions. However, the results so far have been relatively modest and time-consuming. Here, we implemented a novel 3-minute combination of personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (intermittent theta burst-iTBS) coupled with simultaneous application of gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation (γtACS) over the precuneus, a brain area connected to the hippocampus, to modulate long-term memory in healthy subjects. Only dual electromagnetic stimulation of the precuneus produced an increase in long-term associative memory as compared to iTBS alone and sham conditions in a sample of healthy volunteers. The effects were replicated in another independent sample, in which the increased associative memory was retained for up to one week. Moreover, dual stimulation increased gamma oscillations and functional connectivity between the precuneus and hippocampus through the white matter tracts that link the precuneus to the temporal lobe. These findings suggest that dual stimulation may lead to neuronal assemblies in a state favorable for enhancing long-term plasticity. Personalized dual electromagnetic stimulation of the precuneus may represent a new powerful approach for enhancing memory functions in several healthy and clinical conditions.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.573n5tbn2
Description of the data and file structure
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have the potential to improve memory functions. However, the results so far have been relatively modest and time-consuming. Here, we implemented a novel 3-minute combination of personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (intermittent theta burst-iTBS) coupled with simultaneous application of gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation (γtACS) over the precuneus, a brain area connected with the hippocampus, to modulate long-term memory in healthy subjects. We conducted four experiments aimed at understanding the effects of dual iTBS+γtACS on associative memory performance, cortical oscillatory activity and functional connectivity.
Files and variables
File: EXP1_STMB.xlsx
Description: This file contains the short-term memory binding test (STMB) data performed in experiment 1. The test was administered three times after three stimulation conditions (iTBS+sham-γtACS; sham-iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS). STMB is a recognition task relying on a change detection paradigm. Participants were instructed to remember visual arrays of three black shapes (shape) or colored shapes (binding) presented for 2 seconds (study phase). After a 1-second delay where a blank screen was presented (retention interval), a display with the same or different items appeared in new random locations on the screen (test phase).
Variables
- Accuracy (ACC), expressed in percentage, and reaction times (RT), expressed in ms, are reported for each stimulation condition (iTBS+sham-γtACS; sham-iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS) and condition of the test (shape; binding). Each row corresponds to a study participant.
File: EXP2_STMB.xlsx
Description: This file contains the short-term memory binding test (STMB) data performed in experiment 2. The test was administered two times after two stimulation conditions (iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS). STMB is a recognition task relying on a change detection paradigm. Participants were instructed to remember visual arrays of three black shapes (shape) or colored shapes (binding) presented for 2 seconds (study phase). After a 1-second delay where a blank screen was presented (retention interval), a display with the same or different items appeared in new random locations on the screen (test phase).
Variables
- Accuracy (ACC), expressed in percentage, and reaction times (RT), expressed in ms, are reported for each stimulation condition (iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS) and condition of the test (shape; binding). Each raw correspond to a study participant.
File: EXP3_TMS-EEG.xlsx
Description: This file contains cortical oscillations data collected in experiment 3 through the combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) performed over the precuneus and the left posterior parietal cortex in response to two stimulation conditions (iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS). To assess the effects of the stimulation, the TMS-EEG was performed before (T0), just after (T1), and after 20 minutes from the stimulation (T2). Theta (θ), alpha (α), beta (β), low gamma (γ), and high gamma (highγ) oscillatory activity were investigated.
Variables
- The oscillatory power (µV2) obtained by the subtraction of T1 to T0 (ΔT1) and T2 to T0 (ΔT2) is reported for each frequency band (θ, α, β, γ, highγ) and stimulation condition (iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS). The first sheet (DELTA PC) reports the oscillatory power of the TMS-EEG performed over the precuneus, the second sheet (DELTA L-PPC) reports the oscillatory power of the TMS-EEG performed over the left posterior parietal cortex. Each raw correspond to a study participant.
File: EXP1_FNAT.xlsx
Description: This file contains the face-name associative task (FNAT) data performed in experiment 1. The test was administered three times after three stimulation conditions (iTBS+sham-γtACS; sham-iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS). FNAT, evaluating long-term associative memory, consisted of a learning phase followed by immediate and delayed recalls and recognition trial. During the learning phase, participants were asked to learn 12 faces associated with a name and an occupation. Right after the learning phase, there was an immediate cued recall phase, in which the participants were asked to recall the name and the occupation of each face previously shown while observing the faces again. The delayed cued recall consisted of showing the same faces and asking participants to say each name and occupation. During the recognition trial, participants were asked to recognize the correct name and/or occupation among three alternatives each.
Variables
- FNAT accuracy is reported with a percentage index for the sum of names correctly associated with the face (NAME), the sum of occupations correctly associated with the face (OCCUP) and the sum of items where both name and occupation were correctly associated to the face (TOT). These indices are reported for each task phase (immediate, delayed and recognition) and each stimulation condition (iTBS+sham-γtACS; sham-iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS).
File: EXP2_FNAT.xlsx
Description: This file contains the face-name associative task (FNAT) data performed in experiment 2. FNAT was administered two times after two stimulation conditions (iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS). FNAT, evaluating long-term associative memory, consisted of a learning phase followed by immediate and three delayed recalls and recognition trial. During the learning phase, participants were asked to learn 12 faces associated with a name and an occupation. Right after the learning phase, there was an immediate cued recall phase, in which the participants were asked to recall the name and the occupation of each face previously shown while observing the faces again. The delayed cued recall, performed after 15 minutes (delayed), 24 hours (delayed24) and 7 days (delayed7d), consisted of showing the same faces and asking participants to say each name and occupation. In the recognition trial, participants were asked to recognize the correct name and/or occupation among three alternatives each.
Variables
- FNAT accuracy is reported with a percentage index for the sum of names correctly associated with the face (NAME), the sum of occupations correctly associated with the face (OCCUP) and the sum of items where both name and occupation were correctly associated to the face (TOT). These indices are reported for each task phase (immediate, delayed, delayed24, delayed7d and recognition) and each stimulation condition (iTBS+sham-γtACS; sham-iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS).
File: EXP4_RM.xlsx
Description: This file contains data about functional connectivity between the precuneus and hippocampus acquired with experiment 4. fMRI was acquired before and after two stimulation conditions (iTBS+sham-γtACS; iTBS+γtACS).
Variables
- Functional connectivity between the precuneus and the hippocampus is reported before and after iTBS+sham-γtACS and iTBS+γtACS.
Human subjects data
We confirm that all participants gave explicit consent to publish the de-identified data. All data were de-identified assigning a code to each participant.