Integrating music‐based interventions with Gamma‐frequency stimulation: Implications for healthy ageing

In recent years, music-based interventions (MBIs) have risen in popularity as a non-invasive, sustainable form of care for treating dementia-related disorders, such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Despite their clinical potential, evidence regarding the efficacy of MBIs on patient outcomes is mixed. Recently, a line of related research has begun to investigate the clinical impact of non-invasive Gamma-frequency (e.g., 40 Hz) sensory stimulation on dementia. Current work, using non-human-animal models of AD, suggests that non-invasive Gamma-frequency stimulation can remediate multiple pathophysiologies of dementia at the molecular, cellular, and neural-systems scales, and, importantly, improve cognitive functioning. These findings suggest that the efficacy of MBIs could, in theory, be enhanced by incorporating Gamma-frequency stimulation into current MBI protocols. In the current review, we propose a novel clinical framework for non-invasively treating dementia-related disorders that combines previous MBIs with current approaches employing Gamma-frequency sensory stimulation. We theorize that combining MBIs with Gamma-frequency stimulation could increase the therapeutic power of MBIs by simultaneously targeting multiple biomarkers of dementia, restoring neural activity that underlies learning and memory (e.g., Gamma-frequency neural activity, Theta-Gamma coupling), and actively engaging auditory and reward networks in the brain to promote behavioral change.

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Sensory gamma frequency stimulation in cognitively healthy and AD individuals safely induces highly coordinated 40 hz neural oscillation: A preliminary study of non‐invasive sensory stimulation for treating Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer s & Dementia ◽

10.1002/alz.041146 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (S7) ◽

Author(s):

Ho‐Jun Suk ◽

Diane Chan ◽

Brennan Jackson ◽

Vanesa Fernandez ◽

Danielle Stark ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Sensory Stimulation ◽

Neural Oscillation ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Gamma Frequency ◽

Frequency Stimulation ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

40 Hz

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Cell type–differential modulation of prefrontal cortical GABAergic interneurons on low gamma rhythm and social interaction

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aay4073 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (30) ◽

pp. eaay4073

Author(s):

Ling Liu ◽

Haifeng Xu ◽

Jun Wang ◽

Jie Li ◽

Yuanyuan Tian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Interaction ◽

Functional Differentiation ◽

Gabaergic Interneurons ◽

Prefrontal Cortical ◽

Gamma Frequency ◽

Gamma Rhythm ◽

High Gamma ◽

Gamma Power ◽

Frequency Stimulation ◽

Gamma Rhythms

Prefrontal GABAergic interneurons (INs) are crucial for social behavior by maintaining excitation/inhibition balance. However, the underlying neuronal correlates and network computations are poorly understood. We identified distinct firing patterns of prefrontal parvalbumin (PV) INs and somatostatin (SST) INs upon social interaction. Moreover, social interaction closely correlated with elevated gamma rhythms particularly at low gamma band (20 to 50 Hz). Pharmacogenetic inhibition of PV INs, instead of SST INs, reduced low gamma power and impaired sociability. Optogenetic synchronization of either PV INs or SST INs at low gamma frequency improved sociability, whereas high gamma frequency or random frequency stimulation had no effect. These results reveal a functional differentiation among IN subtypes and suggest the importance of low gamma rhythms in social interaction behavior. Furthermore, our findings underscore previously unrecognized potential of SST INs as therapeutic targets for social impairments commonly observed in major neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Central thalamus modulates consciousness by controlling layer-specific cortical interactions

10.1101/776591 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Michelle J. Redinbaugh ◽

Jessica M. Phillips ◽

Niranjan A. Kambi ◽

Sounak Mohanta ◽

Samantha Andryk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neural Activity ◽

Neural Correlates ◽

Cortical Layers ◽

Cortical Dynamics ◽

Gamma Frequency ◽

Internal States ◽

Frequency Stimulation ◽

Gamma Frequencies ◽

Central Thalamus ◽

Stimulation Of

AbstractConsciousness is the capacity to experience one’s environment and internal states. The minimal mechanisms sufficient to produce this experience, the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC), are thought to involve thalamocortical and intracortical interactions, but the key operations and circuit paths are unclear. We simultaneously recorded neural activity in central thalamus and across layers of fronto-parietal cortex in awake, sleeping and anesthetized macaques. Spiking activity was selectively reduced in deep cortical layers and thalamus during unconsciousness, as were intracolumnar and interareal interactions at alpha and gamma frequencies. Gamma-frequency stimulation, when focused on the central lateral thalamus of anesthetized macaques, counteracted these neural changes and restored consciousness. These findings suggest that the NCC involve both corticocortical feedforward and feedback pathways coordinated with intracolumnar and thalamocortical loops.SummaryStimulation of central lateral thalamus counters anesthesia to restore wake cortical dynamics and consciousness.

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