Poor working memory functioning is commonly found in schizophrenia. A number of studies have now tested whether non-invasive brain stimulation can improve this aspect of cognitive functioning. This report used meta-analysis to synthesise the results of these studies to examine whether transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve working memory in schizophrenia. The studies included in this meta-analysis were sham-controlled, randomised controlled trials that utilised either tES or rTMS to treat working memory problems in schizophrenia. A total of 22 studies were included in the review. Nine studies administered rTMS and 13 administered tES. Meta-analysis revealed that compared to sham/placebo stimulation, neither TMS nor tES significantly improved working memory. This was found when working memory was measured with respect to the accuracy on working memory tasks (TMS studies: Hedges’ g = 0.112, CI₉₅: −0.082, 0.305, p = .257; tES studies Hedges’ g = 0.080, CI₉₅: −0.117, 0.277, p = .427) or the speed working memory tasks were completed (rTMS studies: Hedges’ g = 0.233, CI₉₅: −0.212, 0.678, p = .305; tES studies Hedges’ g = −0.016, CI₉₅: −0.204, 0.173, p = .871). For tES studies, meta-regression analysis found that studies with a larger number of stimulation sessions were associated with larger treatment effects. This association was not found for TMS studies. At present, rTMS and tES is not associated with a reliable improvement in working memory for individuals with schizophrenia.

精神分裂症中常见的工作记忆功能不佳。许多研究现在已经测试了非侵入性脑刺激是否可以改善认知功能的这一方面。本报告使用荟萃分析综合这些研究的结果，以检验经颅电刺激 (tES) 或重复经颅磁刺激 (rTMS) 是否可以改善精神分裂症患者的工作记忆。该荟萃分析中包含的研究是假对照、随机对照试验，利用 tES 或 rTMS 治疗精神分裂症的工作记忆问题。该评价共纳入 22 项研究。9 项研究使用 rTMS，13 项使用 tES。荟萃分析显示，与假/安慰剂刺激相比，TMS 和 tES 均未显着改善工作记忆。g  = 0.112，CI ₉₅：-0.082，0.305，p  = .257；tES 研究 Hedges 的g  = 0.080，CI ₉₅：-0.117，0.277，p  = .427）或完成速度工作记忆任务（rTMS 研究：Hedges 的g  = 0.233，CI ₉₅：-0.212，0.678，p  = . 305；tES 研究 Hedges' g  = -0.016，CI ₉₅：-0.204，0.173，p = .871)。对于 tES 研究，元回归分析发现，刺激次数较多的研究与较大的治疗效果相关。在 TMS 研究中没有发现这种关联。目前，rTMS 和 tES 与精神分裂症患者工作记忆的可靠改善无关。