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Science 28 September 2007:
Vol. 317. no. 5846, pp. 1918 - 1921
DOI: 10.1126/science.1146426
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Reports

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Elicits Coupled Neural and Hemodynamic Consequences

Elena A. Allen,* Brian N. Pasley,* Thang Duong, Ralph D. Freeman{dagger}

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an increasingly common technique used to selectively modify neural processing. However, application of TMS is limited by uncertainty concerning its physiological effects. We applied TMS to the cat visual cortex and evaluated the neural and hemodynamic consequences. Short TMS pulse trains elicited initial activation (~1 minute) and prolonged suppression (5 to 10 minutes) of neural responses. Furthermore, TMS disrupted the temporal structure of activity by altering phase relationships between neural signals. Despite the complexity of this response, neural changes were faithfully reflected in hemodynamic signals; quantitative coupling was present over a range of stimulation parameters. These results demonstrate long-lasting neural responses to TMS and support the use of hemodynamic-based neuroimaging to effectively monitor these changes over time.

Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, Group in Vision Science, School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.

* These authors contributed equally to this work.

{dagger} To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: freeman{at}neurovision.berkeley.edu

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Induced Deficits in Speed Perception by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Human Cortical Areas V5/MT+ and V3A.
D. J. McKeefry, M. P. Burton, C. Vakrou, B. T. Barrett, and A. B. Morland (2008)
J. Neurosci. 28, 6848-6857
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Contribution of transcranial magnetic stimulation to the understanding of cortical mechanisms involved in motor control.
J. Reis, O. B. Swayne, Y. Vandermeeren, M. Camus, M. A. Dimyan, M. Harris-Love, M. A. Perez, P. Ragert, J. C. Rothwell, and L. G. Cohen (2008)
J. Physiol. 586, 325-351
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)