EPFL researchers develop non-invasive neurotechnology to improve spatial memory

This technology shows promising results in improving memory and navigation abilities in healthy individuals, potentially paving the way for non-surgical dementia treatments.

As people age, remembering locations and navigating surroundings becomes more challenging – a symptom that worsens with dementia, a condition estimated to affect someone globally every three seconds. To address this issue without relying on medications or surgery, EPFL’s Neuro X Institute combined the expertise of two labs: the Hummel Lab, specializing in non-invasive brain stimulation, and Olaf Blanke’s Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, which focuses on spatial navigation within VR environments. 

The study involves a unique setup where participants wear VR goggles while receiving targeted, painless brain stimulation via transcranial temporal interference electric stimulation (tTIS), a method using external electrodes to stimulate deep brain areas like the hippocampus, a region essential for memory and navigation. Participants then navigate a virtual environment, recalling landmarks to measure their spatial memory performance under brain stimulation. 

Dr. Friedhelm Hummel, head of the Hummel Lab, explains, "By finding ways to improve spatial memory without surgery or medication, we are addressing a serious concern for a large and growing population: the elderly, as well as brain trauma patients and those affected by dementia." 

This study, conducted entirely within an fMRI scanner, provided researchers with real-time brain activity data. The fMRI scans revealed shifts in neural patterns within memory-related regions, offering critical insights into how tTIS modulates brain function. Researchers noted faster recall and improved navigation among participants under stimulation, suggesting increased brain plasticity when training in virtual environments. 

According to co-first author Elena Beanato, "When stimulation was applied, we observed a clear improvement of the participants’ recall time – the time it took to start moving toward where they remembered the object to be. This leads us to believe that by stimulating the hippocampus, we temporarily increased brain plasticity, which, when combined with training in a virtual environment, leads to better spatial navigation." 

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)