Commentary: Transdiagnostic Effects of Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Cue Reactivity

AbstractImaging and lesion studies indicate that the prefrontal cortex plays a prominent role in mediating theory of mind (ToM) functioning. Particularly, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) appears to be involved in mediating ToM functioning. This study utilized slow repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the VMPFC in 13 healthy subjects in order to test whether normal functioning of the VMPFC is necessary for ToM functioning. We found that rTMS to the VMPFC, but not sham-rTMS, significantly disrupted ToM learning. Performance on a control task, not involving affective ToM functioning, was not significantly altered after applying rTMS to the VMPFC or sham-rTMS. In an additional experiment, rTMS to the vertex did not significantly affect ToM learning, confirming specificity of the VMPFC region. These findings indicate that the VMPFC is critical for intact ToM learning and shed further light on the concept and localization of ToM in particular and empathic functioning in general.

Download Full-text

Cerebral blood flow in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex correlates with treatment response to low-frequency right prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of depression

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences ◽

10.1111/j.1440-1819.2011.02312.x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 138-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Shinsuke Kito ◽

Takashi Hasegawa ◽

Yoshihiko Koga

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Treatment Response ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Treatment Of Depression

Download Full-text

A pilot trial of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex in anorexia nervosa: resting fMRI correlates of response

Journal of Eating Disorders ◽

10.1186/s40337-021-00411-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

D. Blake Woodside ◽

Katharine Dunlop ◽

Charlene Sathi ◽

Eileen Lam ◽

Brigitte McDonald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anorexia Nervosa ◽

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Trial Registration ◽

Angular Gyrus ◽

Open Label ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex

Abstract Background Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) face severe and chronic illness with high mortality rates, despite our best currently available conventional treatments. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown increasing efficacy in treatment-refractory cases across a variety of psychiatric disorders comorbid with AN, including major depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, to date few studies have examined the effects of a course of rTMS on AN pathology itself. Methods Nineteen patients with AN underwent a 20–30 session open-label course of dorsomedial prefrontal rTMS for comorbid Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) ± PTSD. Resting-state functional MRI was acquired at baseline in 16/19 patients. Results Following treatment, significant improvements were seen in core AN pathology on the EDE global scale, and to a lesser extent on the shape and weight concerns subscales. Significant improvements in comorbid anxiety, and to a lesser extent depression, also ensued. The greatest improvements were seen in patients with lower baseline functional connectivity from the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) target to regions in the right frontal pole and left angular gyrus. Conclusions Despite the limited size of this preliminary, open-label study, the results suggest that rTMS is safe in AN, and may be useful in addressing some core domains of AN pathology. Other targets may also be worth studying in this population, in future sham-controlled trials with larger sample sizes. Trial registration Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04409704. Registered May 282,020. Retrospectively registered.

Download Full-text

Single-Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Evoked Potential Amplitudes and Latencies in the Motor and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex among Young, Older Healthy Participants, and Schizophrenia Patients

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11010054 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 54

Author(s):

Yoshihiro Noda ◽

Mera S. Barr ◽

Reza Zomorrodi ◽

Robin F. H. Cash ◽

Pantelis Lioumis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Evoked Potential ◽

Single Pulse ◽

Signal Propagation ◽

Lower Amplitude ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽

The Right

Background: The combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with electroencephalography (EEG) allows for non-invasive investigation of cortical response and connectivity in human cortex. This study aimed to examine the amplitudes and latencies of each TMS-evoked potential (TEP) component induced by single-pulse TMS (spTMS) to the left motor (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) among healthy young participants (YNG), older participants (OLD), and patients with schizophrenia (SCZ). Methods: We compared the spatiotemporal characteristics of TEPs induced by spTMS among the groups. Results: Compared to YNG, M1-spTMS induced lower amplitudes of N45 and P180 in OLD and a lower amplitude of P180 in SCZ, whereas the DLPFC-spTMS induced a lower N45 in OLD. Further, OLD demonstrated latency delays in P60 after M1-spTMS and in N45-P60 over the right central region after left DLPFC-spTMS, whereas SCZ demonstrated latency delays in N45-P60 over the midline and right central regions after DLPFC-spTMS. Conclusions: These findings suggest that inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms mediating TEPs may be altered in OLD and SCZ. The amplitude and latency changes of TEPs with spTMS may reflect underlying neurophysiological changes in OLD and SCZ, respectively. The spTMS administered to M1 and the DLPFC can probe cortical functions by examining TEPs. Thus, TMS-EEG can be used to study changes in cortical connectivity and signal propagation from healthy to pathological brains.

Download Full-text

Laterality effects in selective attention to threat after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation at the prefrontal cortex in female subjects

Neuroscience Letters ◽

10.1016/s0304-3940(00)00781-3 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 280 (3) ◽

pp. 195-198 ◽

Cited By ~ 103

Author(s):

Alfredo A.L d'Alfonso ◽

Jack van Honk ◽

Erno Hermans ◽

Albert Postma ◽

Edward H.F de Haan

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Selective Attention ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Female Subjects

Download Full-text

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Improves Depersonalization: A Case Report

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852900009366 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 375-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Alejandro M. Jiménez-Genchi

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Case Report ◽

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Treatment Resistant ◽

Depersonalization Disorder ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal

AbstractDepersonalization disorder is a poorly understood and treatment-resistant condition. This report describes a patient with depersonalization disorder who underwent six sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation produced a 28% reduction on depersonalization scores.

Download Full-text