High Visual Demand Following Theta Burst Stimulation Modulates the Effect on Visual Cortex Excitability

Overview

Journal Front Hum Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2015 Nov 19

PMID 26578935

Citations 4

Authors

Sabrina Bruckner

Thomas Kammer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Modulatory effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) depend on the activity of the stimulated cortical area before, during, and even after application. In the present study, we investigated the effects of theta burst stimulation (TBS) on visual cortex excitability using phosphene threshold (PTs). In a between-group design either continuous or intermittent TBS was applied with 100% of individual PT intensity. We varied visual demand following stimulation in form of high demand (acuity task) or low demand (looking at the wall). No change of PTs was observed directly after TBS. We found increased PTs only if subjects had high visual demand following continuous TBS. With low visual demand following stimulation no change of PT was observed. Intermittent TBS had no effect on visual cortex excitability at all. Since other studies showed increased PTs following continuous TBS using subthreshold intensities, our results highlight the importance of stimulation intensity applying TBS to the visual cortex. Furthermore, the state of the neurons in the stimulated cortex area not only before but also following TBS has an important influence on the effects of stimulation, making it necessary to scrupulously control for activity during the whole experimental session in a study.

Citing Articles

Frequency-Dependent Effects of Cerebellar Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Visuomotor Accuracy.

Lien Y, Lin Y, Lin S, Lin C, Chang L Front Neurosci. 2022; 16:804027.

PMID: 35368261 PMC: 8971901. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.804027.

Continuous and intermittent theta burst stimulation to the visual cortex do not alter GABA and glutamate concentrations measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Stoby K, Rafique S, Oeltzschner G, Steeves J Brain Behav. 2022; 12(2):e2478.

PMID: 35029058 PMC: 8865152. DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2478.

No Modulation of Visual Cortex Excitability by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation.

Bruckner S, Kammer T PLoS One. 2016; 11(12):e0167697.

PMID: 27936117 PMC: 5147954. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167697.

Modulation of Visual Cortex Excitability by Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation Depends on Coil Type.

Bruckner S, Kammer T PLoS One. 2016; 11(7):e0159743.

PMID: 27459108 PMC: 4961448. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159743.

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