Ayesha Ikhlaq

Dr. Ayesha Ikhlaq


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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6 June 2024 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DMDanish Mujib
Danish Mujib
ARAhmad Zahid Rao
Ahmad Zahid Rao
MHMuhammad Abul Hasan
Muhammad Abul Hasan
AIAyesha Ikhlaq
Ayesha Ikhlaq
HSHira Shahid
Hira Shahid
Saad QaziSaad Qazi
Saad Qazi
Pain is a multifaceted, multisystem disorder that adversely affects neuro-psychological processes. This study compares the effectiveness of central stimulation (transcranial direct current stimulation—tDCS over F3/F4) and peripheral stimulation (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation—TENS over the median nerve) in pain inhibition during a cognitive task in healthy volunteers and to observe potential neuro-cognitive improvements. Eighty healthy participants underwent a comprehensive experimental protocol, including cognitive assessments, the Cold Pressor Test (CPT) for pain induction, and tDCS/TENS administration. EEG recordings were conducted pre- and post-intervention across all conditions. The protocol for this study was categorized into four groups: G1 (control), G2 (TENS), G3 (anodal-tDCS), and G4 (cathodal-tDCS). Paired t-tests (p < 0.05) were conducted to compare Pre-Stage, Post-Stage, and neuromodulation conditions, with t-values providing insights into effect magnitudes. The result showed a reduction in pain intensity with TENS (p = 0.002, t-value = −5.34) and cathodal-tDCS (p = 0.023, t-value = −5.08) and increased pain tolerance with TENS (p = 0.009, t-value = 4.98) and cathodal-tDCS (p = 0.001, t-value = 5.78). Anodal-tDCS (p = 0.041, t-value = 4.86) improved cognitive performance. The EEG analysis revealed distinct neural oscillatory patterns across the groups. Specifically, G2 and G4 showed delta-power reductions, while G3 observed an increase. Moreover, G2 exhibited increased theta-power in the occipital region during CPT and Post-Stages. In the alpha-band, G2, G3, and G4 had reductions Post-Stage, while G1 and G3 increased. Additionally, beta-power increased in the frontal region for G2 and G3, contrasting with a reduction in G4. Furthermore, gamma-power globally increased during CPT1, with G1, G2, and G3 showing reductions Post-Stage, while G4 displayed a global decrease. The findings confirm the efficacy of TENS and tDCS as possible non-drug therapeutic alternatives for cognition with alleviation from pain.

18 March 2024 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
DMDanish Mujib
Danish Mujib
ARAhmad Zahid Rao
Ahmad Zahid Rao
MHMuhammad Abul Hasan
Muhammad Abul Hasan
AIAyesha Ikhlaq
Ayesha Ikhlaq
MFMahvish Fatima
Mahvish Fatima
Saad QaziSaad Qazi
Saad Qazi
Pain is a multifaceted multisystem disorder that adversely affects neuro-psychological processes. This study compares the effectiveness of central-stimulation (tDCS) and peripheral-stimulation (TENS) in pain-inhibition during a cognitive-task in healthy volunteers and to observe potential neuro-cognitive improvements. Healthy eighty volunteers went through a complete experimental protocol comprising pain-induction (CPT), administration of tDCS/TENS, EEG-data acquisition, and cognitive assessments. The protocol for this study is categorized into 04-groups: G1(Control), G2(TENS), G3(Anodal-tDCS), and G4(Cathodal-tDCS). Paired t-tests (p

27 February 2026 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DMDanish Mujib
Danish Mujib
NMNayab Mubashir
Nayab Mubashir
ARAhmad Zahid Rao
Ahmad Zahid Rao
NNNisha Nasir
Nisha Nasir
AIAyesha Ikhlaq
Ayesha Ikhlaq
MHMuhammad Abul Hasan
Muhammad Abul Hasan
Background: The global prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has reached 55.2 million. AD is characterized by progressive deterioration in cognition and working memory (WM), which are essential for attention, reasoning, and learning. These impairments are associated with pathological changes in cortical and subcortical regions. Binaural beats (BBs), a non-invasive auditory neuromodulation technique, have demonstrated cognitive enhancement effects in healthy individuals; however, their impact on WM in patients with AD remains largely unexplored. Methods: This study investigated the effects of BB stimulation on WM and cognitive function in the temporal lobe of patients with AD using standardized Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA). Twenty-five patients with AD were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 15) that received BB stimulation or a control group (n = 10) that received standard auditory stimulation. EEG recordings were obtained before and after the intervention. Results: Paired t-tests conducted on timeframe and frequency-wise sLORETA images revealed significant increases (p < 0.05) in theta, alpha1, and alpha2 frequency bands in the experimental group. Activated regions included the inferior, middle, superior, and transverse temporal gyri; Brodmann areas (BA) 20, 21, 22, 40, and 42; as well as networks associated with working memory and cognition. Conclusions: These findings suggest that BB stimulation induces temporal lobe activation, thereby enhancing working memory and cognitive function in patients with AD.