Alpha‐tACS alters attentional control but not cognitive functions as video games do: A psychophysical investigation based on the theory of visual attention

Abstract

AbstractVideo game players' faster speed of information processing has been shown to coincide with altered posterior alpha power modulation, that is, brain oscillatory activity around 10 Hz. Thus, it was proposed that improved cognitive processing in video game players may be related to differential alpha activity. However, a causal relationship thereof has not yet been established. We addressed this by conducting a non‐invasive brain stimulation study to demonstrate that modulating alpha power using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) may impact on speed of information processing. Furthermore, we aimed to show that this effect correlated with altered attentional control, for example, visuospatial attention and/or top‐down control processing, given that this has been suggested to contribute to video gaming effects. Therefore, we recruited 19 non‐video game players to undergo one of five brain stimulation conditions while performing a visual short‐term memory task at five different days, respectively. Thus, we applied tACS either at 10 Hz (alpha frequency) or at 16.18 Hz (control frequency) either over their left or right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) or a sham stimulation. Individuals' speed of information processing, visuospatial attention and top‐down control processing were operationalised using a computational modelling approach based on the theory of visual attention. We found that alpha‐tACS applied over individuals' left PPC altered their visuospatial attention orientation but not their speed of information processing. Thus, we were not able to establish a causal relationship between speed of information processing and altered visuospatial attention processing through alpha power modulation using non‐invasive brain stimulation.