Combines VR and non-invasive brain stimulation to boost spatial memory without surgery

As we get older, it becomes harder to remember where things are; Whether it’s remembering where we left the keys or where we parked the car. This spatial memory worsens with the onset of dementia, a condition that one person in the world develops every three seconds, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International.

Researchers at two EPFL laboratories spatial memory By creating a unique experimental setup that combines non-invasive deep researchbrain stimulation, virtual reality trainingand fMRI imaging — all located at Campus Biotech in Geneva. It was published inside Science DevelopmentsThe study shows that targeted, painless electrical stimulations to the hippocampus and adjacent structures (a deep brain region implicated in memory and spatial navigation) can improve the brain’s ability to remember places and navigate more effectively.

“By finding ways to improve spatial memory without surgery or medication, we are addressing a serious concern of a large and growing population: the elderly as well as brain trauma patients and those affected by dementia,” said Hummel President Friedhelm Hummel. laboratory.

The study is the result of a collaboration between the Hummel Laboratory and Olaf Blanke’s Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience (LCNO), both based at EPFL’s Neuro X institute. By combining Hummel’s expertise in non-invasive brain stimulation with Blanke’s cognitive research on spatial navigation in virtual reality environments, the researchers developed a unique neurotechnological setup.

A unique combination of neurotechnologies

The experiment began by placing four harmless electrodes on the heads of healthy individuals to stimulate the hippocampus and neighboring structures. This noninvasive technique, called transcranial temporal interference electrical stimulation (tTIS), delivers targeted pulses without causing any discomfort to the participant.

Volunteers are then immersed in a virtual world using VR glasses. build on previous research By first author Hyuk-June Moon, the scientists tasked participants with navigating a series of locations and remembering landmarks. This immersive virtual setting allowed the researchers to precisely measure how well participants were able to remember spatial information and manipulate that information while receiving tTIS.

“When stimulation was applied, we observed a significant improvement in the participants’ recall time, that is, the time it took them to start moving towards the location where they remembered the object,” says Elena Beanato, the study’s other first author. “This leads us to believe that by stimulating the hippocampus we temporarily increase brain plasticity, which is when combined with training in one area.” virtual environmentIt leads to better spatial navigation.”

The entire experiment was performed in an fMRI scanner. This provided researchers with real-time images of brain activity, allowing them to monitor how the hippocampus and surrounding regions responded to tTIS. spatial navigation tasks. FMRI data revealed the following changes: neural activity This method, which has been associated with behavioral changes observed especially in regions responsible for memory and navigation, gives researchers a deeper insight into how non-invasive stimulation modulates brain function.

This integration of advanced technologies at EPFL’s Neuro X Institute makes Campus Biotech one of the few places where three experimental techniques can be combined in a single study.

“The combination of tTIS, virtual reality, and fMRI offers a highly controlled and innovative approach to studying the brain’s response to stimuli and its impact on cognitive functions,” adds Blanke. “In the long term, we envision using this approach to develop targeted therapies for patients with cognitive disorders, offering a noninvasive way to improve memory and spatial abilities.”