Assessing Rhythmic Visual Entrainment and Reinstatement of Brain Oscillations to Modulate Memory Performance

The human brain’s ability to store information and remember past events is thought to be orchestrated by the synchronization of neuronal oscillations in various frequency bands. A vast amount of research has found that neural oscillations in the theta (∼4–7 Hz) and alpha (∼8–12 Hz) bands play an important role in memory formation. More specifically, it has been suggested that memory performance benefits if the same oscillatory pattern is present during encoding and retrieval. However, the causal relevance of these oscillations is not well understood. Rhythmic sensory stimulation is thought to entrain ongoing brain oscillations and modulate associated functions (e.g., memory formation). In the present study, we used rhythmic visual stimulation at 6 and 10 Hz to experimentally modulate the memory encoding process in a recognition memory task. In addition, we reinstated oscillatory activity from the encoding episode during retrieval, which has been hypothesized to result in memory performance improvements compared to non-reinstated conditions and incongruent reinstatement. Contrary to our hypothesis, we find no effect of neural entrainment during encoding on subsequent memory performance. Likewise, memory retrieval does not benefit from neural reinstatement. The results are discussed with respect to methodological challenges of rhythmic sensory stimulation as a means to alter cognitive processes and induce context-dependent memory effects.