The impact of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) on alpha coherence and verbal divergent thinking

• Published in: Network neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 569 - 590
• Main Authors: Camenzind, Magdalena, Steuri, Rahel A., Savic, Branislav, Mast, Fred W., Müri, René M., Eberhard-Moscicka, Aleksandra K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 255 Main Street, 9th Floor, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA MIT Press 30.04.2025
• Subjects: Dual process model of creativity; Large scale networks; Neural modulation; Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS); Verbal creativity; Weighted node degree (wND); Neural modulation; Dual process model of creativity; Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS); Verbal creativity; Large scale networks; Weighted node degree (wND)
• ISSN: 2472-1751; 2472-1751
• DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00446

Random noise stimulation (tRNS) applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) enhances fluency and originality in verbal divergent thinking tasks. However, the underlying neural mechanisms of this behavioral change remain unclear. Given that the DLPFC is a key node of the executive control network (ECN) and that creativity is a two-stage process in which the ECN is primarily involved in the final idea selection stage, application of tRNS to this region shall not only result in an increase of originality and flexibility but also in a modulation of EEG activity. To test these assumptions, we collected 256-channel EEG of 40 participants before and after tRNS/sham applied to the DLPFC, during which participants performed two verbal creativity tasks. To assess stimulation-induced connectivity changes and to capture large-scale cortical communication, a source space alpha (8–12 Hz) imaginary coherence was calculated. We found that the tRNS-induced improvements in originality and flexibility were associated with bilateral DLPFC alpha coherence changes. From a large-scale networks perspective, these results suggest that tRNS-induced ECN activity is associated with increased originality and flexibility, potentially by enhancing selectivity in the idea evaluation phase. This study, for the first time, indicates a link between neurophysiological activity and tRNS-induced changes in verbal creativity. This study investigates the impact of on alpha coherence and the link between neurophysiological and tRNS-induced effects on creativity. Given the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex’s (DLPFC) role in creativity’s final idea selection stage, 40 participants underwent 256-channel EEG recordings immediately before and after tRNS applied to the DLPFC. Using a within-subject design with active and sham tRNS sessions, we found that the tRNS-induced changes in originality and flexibility were linked to changes in alpha coherence in both left and right DLPFCs, analyzed in source space. These results suggest a network-level impact of tRNS on creativity, potentially enhancing executive control network activity for improved idea evaluation and indicate that the effect of tRNS is explained by task-related brain activity.