Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) mechanisms and protocols

What if you could affect both neuroplasticity and human cognitive performance by parametrically modulating neural oscillations? Ongoing neuronal activity is susceptible to the modulation of synaptic activity and membrane potentials. This susceptibility leverages transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for neuroplastic interventions. Through neuromodulation of phasic, neural activity, tACS presents a powerful tool for investigations of the neural correlates of cognition alongside other forms of transcranial electric stimulation (tES) and noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS). The rapid pace of development in this area requires clarification of best practices. Here, we briefly introduce tACS dogma and review the most compelling findings from the tACS literature to provide a starting point for the use of tACS under research conditions.