News Neuroscience

When tickling the brain to stimulate memory, location matters

Zapping white, not gray, matter improves memory test results, new research suggests

brain white matter

WHITE MAGIC  Targeting parts of the brain's white matter, the tissue that connects different brain regions (shown), may be key to whether stimulating the brain with electricity will work as a treatment for memory problems and other ills.

Pasieka/Science Source

By Rachel Ehrenberg

- More than 2 years ago

BOSTON — Conflicting results on whether brain stimulation helps or hinders memory may be explained by the electrodes’ precise location: whether they’re tickling white matter or gray matter.