bioRxivJClub
Transcranial electrical stimulation for memory enhancement: A systematic review and meta-analysis
bioRxiv · · Preprint · Open access
Goto, Onagawa + 5 more
Abstract ↗AI summary
The abstract is read at the publisher; the summary is JClub's.
Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is associated with small improvements in memory function versus sham in healthy adults, with an overall standardised mean difference of 0.19 [0.12, 0.25].
- Why it matters: The field needs evidence on whether non-invasive tES reliably enhances memory, and how effects vary by stimulation type, memory domain, timing, and safety.
- What they did: A pre-registered PROSPERO systematic review and meta-analysis identified 113 articles (193 trials, 7,299 participants) testing tES, pooling effects against sham and examining subgroups by stimulation site and task type.
- The result: Positive pooled effects were found for frontal tDCS and for working- and declarative-memory tasks, with significant effects within 1 day; tingling and itching occurred more with active tES, and no serious adverse events were reported.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
- Open access