Impact of theta transcranial alternating current stimulation on language production in adult classic galactosemia patients

Britt Derks, Varsha Shashi Kumar, Sai Yadnik, Bianca Panis, Annet M. Bosch, David Cassiman, Mirian C. H. Janssen, Teresa Schuhmann, M. Estela Rubio-Gozalbo, Bernadette M. Jansma*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Patients with classic galactosemia (CG), an inborn error of galactose metabolism, suffer from impairments in cognition, including language processing. Potential causes are atypical brain oscillations. Recent electroencephalogram (EEG) showed differences in the P300 event-related-potential (ERP) and alterations in the alpha/theta-range during speech planning. This study investigated whether transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at theta-frequency compared to sham can cause a normalization of the ERP post stimulation and improves language performance. Eleven CG patients and fourteen healthy controls participated in two tACS-sessions (theta 6.5 Hz/sham). They were engaged in an active language task, describing animated scenes at three moments, that is, pre/during/post stimulation. Pre and post stimulation, behavior (naming accuracy, voice-onset-times; VOT) and mean-amplitudes of ERP were compared, by means of a P300 time-window analysis and cluster-based-permutation testing during speech planning. The results showed that theta stimulation, not sham, significantly reduced naming error-percentage in patients, not in controls. Theta did not systematically speed up naming beyond a general learning effect, which was larger for the patients. The EEG analysis revealed a significant pre-post stimulation effect (P300/late positivity), in patients and during theta stimulation only. In conclusion, theta-tACS improved accuracy in language performance in CG patients compared to controls and altered the P300 and late positive ERP-amplitude, suggesting a lasting effect on neural oscillation and behavior.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)703-715
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Inherited Metabolic Disease
Volume47
Issue number4
Early online date1 Apr 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2024

Keywords

  • classic galactosemia
  • event related potentials
  • language production
  • late positivity
  • P300
  • transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)
  • theta time frequency

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