Examining the Effects of Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation on Accuracy and Reaction Time in N Back Tasks

Abstract

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), especially intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), has been extensively studied to improve brain function. Its ability to enhance cognitive functions, particularly working memory, has been widely investigated. This study aims to analyse the effects of a single session of iTBS applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on cognitive test performance, electroencephalography (EEG) correlates of working memory in healthy young subjects, and to assess accuracy and reaction time. A group of 14 healthy young adults aged between 19 and 23 years participated in the study. The subjects were arbitrarily distributed into two groups: with active (N=7) and sham (N=7) iTBS. The active 3-back test showed a positive impact on working memory performance with an increasing accuracy and with reduced average reaction time after 30 minutes of TMS session. It is concluded that iTBS over the DLPFC was responsible for enhancing working memory performance in healthy young adults, based on an observation that depicted improved accuracy and faster response times, especially within the Active 3 back test.