Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.
Susana Cid-Fernández, Ana Nieto-Vieites, Arturo X. Pereiro and Fernando Díaz
University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
Background: Age-related cognitive decline is rising due to longer life expectancy, necessitating new treatments as current drugs are ineffective and costly. Transcranial alternating current stimulation at the theta frequency (theta-tACS) has shown promise in enhancing cognitive function in both young and elderly adults, but its effectiveness in those with cognitive decline is not well-studied. Method: This study involved 27 participants with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia, who underwent multiple sessions combining computerized cognitive training with theta-tACS to assess its efficacy. Participants were randomly assigned to either a real-tACS or sham-tACS group. Before and after treatment, they completed several cognitive tasks, and their behavioral and EEG data were collected. Results: Only the real-tACS group improved in the oddball task and exhibited increased event-related EEG amplitude in the theta range. Conclusions: These findings suggest that theta-tACS can improve cognitive performance in individuals with cognitive decline at both behavioral and psychophysiological levels, supporting its potential for alleviating cognitive decline in elderly populations.
Antecedentes: El deterioro cognitivo relacionado con la edad está aumentando debido a una mayor esperanza de vida, lo que requiere nuevos tratamientos, ya que los medicamentos actuales son ineficaces y costosos. La estimulación transcraneal por corriente alterna en frecuencia theta (theta-tACS) ha mostrado potencial para mejorar la función cognitiva tanto en adultos jóvenes como mayores, pero su efectividad en personas con deterioro cognitivo no está bien estudiada. Método: Este estudio incluyó a 27 participantes con deterioro cognitivo subjetivo (DCS), deterioro cognitivo leve (DCL) y demencia, quienes se sometieron a múltiples sesiones que combinaron entrenamiento cognitivo computarizado con theta-tACS para evaluar su eficacia. Fueron asignados aleatoriamente a un grupo de tACS real o un grupo de tACS placebo. Antes y después del tratamiento, completaron tareas cognitivas y se recogieron datos comportamentales y de EEG. Resultados: Solo el grupo de tACS real mejoró en la tarea oddball y presentó un aumento en la amplitud del EEG en el rango theta. Conclusiones: Estos hallazgos sugieren que theta-tACS puede mejorar el rendimiento cognitivo en personas con deterioro cognitivo, a nivel conductual y psicofisiológico, apoyando su potencial para aliviar el deterioro cognitivo en poblaciones mayores.
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https://doi.org/10.70478/psicothema.2025.37.11