title: Effects of Theta Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Over the Frontal Cortex on Reversal Learning.
abstract: Theta oscillations in the electroencephalogram (EEG) are associated with learning and behavioral adaptation.
  
  
  
  To investigate the effects of theta transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) applied to the frontal cortex on reversal learning.
  
  
  
  Healthy volunteers participated in a sham-controlled between subjects design. TACS at 1 mA peak-to-peak was administered during a reward-punishment reversal learning task. Resting state EEG was measured before and after tACS and the task.
  
  
  
  Active tACS improved learning ability, but at the same time interfered with applying the rule to optimize behavior. Furthermore, a significant decrease in frontal theta-beta EEG ratios was observed following active tACS.
  
  
  
  Results provide behavioral and electrophysiological evidence for influencing reversal learning with exogenous oscillatory electric field potentials applied to the frontal cortex.
authors.affiliation: Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.wischnewski@donders.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Miles
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wischnewski
authors.affiliation: Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zerr
authors.affiliation: Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dennis J L G
authors.initials: DJLG
authors.lastname: Schutter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012193:Reversal Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electroencephalogram; Reversal learning; Theta activity; Theta–beta ratio; Transcranial alternating current stimulation