Project in execution FONIS Evaluation of a cognitive rehabilitation therapy based on brain oscillations training in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment.
2019 – 2022
Collaborating institutions:
Research Center in Social Complexity, with its Social Neuroscience and Neuromodulation Laboratory, UDD School of Government.
Clinical Trials Center of the UDD School of Medicine.
Center for Research in Language Development and Cognition of the Faculty of Medicine of the UV.
Center for Phonoaudiological Attention Faculty of Medicine of the UV.
Participants:
UDD:
Pablo Billeke (Director)
Alejandra Figueroa (CO)
Paula Muñoz Venturelli (CO)
Mauricio Aspé (CO)
Leonie Kausel (CO)
Francisca González (CO)
María Paz Martínez
(ES)
Gabriela Valdebenito (ES)
Víctor Márquez (ES)
Other participants:
Begoña Góngora (Alternate Director)
Maria Francisca Alonso (CO – University of Valparaíso)
Alonso Ortega (CO – University of Valparaíso).
Project Description:
This project proposes to generate an innovative intervention protocol to enhance Working Memory (WM) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which combines cognitive training with non-invasive brain stimulation, specifically transcranial alternating current electrical stimulation (tACS). This proposal stems from recent evidence showing that it is possible to increase WM capacity in users with MCI through cognitive training. Along with this, tACS has been proposed as an inducer of neuronal plasticity specific to the oscillatory pattern required for each cognitive process. WM is a process particularly amenable to be enhanced with this technique, as the underlying oscillatory electrophysiological patterns are well described. Thus, tACS would act as an enhancer of residual WM capacity in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a combined intervention involving cognitive training and transcranial alternating current electrical stimulation (PECC) on prefrontal oscillatory activity in a group of users with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) compared to an intervention involving only cognitive training (PECT).
