Sex differences in the effects of 10 Hz and 40 Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation on spatial cognition in mice.

BACKGROUND

Sex differences are crucial to understanding neuropsychiatric disorders, yet they are often overlooked in the development of therapies. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) shows promise for cognitive enhancement, but its sex-specific effects are largely unknown.

METHODS

In this study, the effects of 10 Hz and 40 Hz tACS on spatial cognition were examined in male and female mice using three tests: the Y-maze to evaluate spatial recognition memory, the Barnes maze to evaluate spatial learning and memory related to punishment, and the reversal Barnes maze to evaluate reversal learning. General behaviors, such as anxiety, exploration, and locomotion, were evaluated using the elevated plus maze and open field tests.

RESULTS

The results showed that 40 Hz tACS improved spatial recognition memory in males, while 10 Hz and 40 Hz tACS enhanced spatial learning in females. Males learned faster, while females performed better initially in the spatial learning process. In addition, no significant effects of tACS were observed in reversal learning, spatial memory, anxiety, or exploration. Interestingly, males exhibited reduced locomotion compared to females across tasks, and tACS potentially exacerbated this difference.

CONCLUSIONS

This animal study suggests that tACS may influence spatial cognition differently in males and females. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the interaction between sex and stimulation frequency when optimizing tACS intervention parameters.