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Modulation of cortical inhibition by rTMS – findings obtained from animal models
Author(s) -
Funke Klaus,
Benali Alia
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.206573
Subject(s) - transcranial magnetic stimulation , neuroscience , stimulation , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , excitatory postsynaptic potential , parvalbumin , gating , neurotransmission , cortical neurons , neuroplasticity , psychology , brain stimulation , transcranial alternating current stimulation , biology , receptor , biochemistry
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has become a popular method to non‐invasively stimulate the human brain. The opportunity to modify cortical excitability with repetitive stimulation (rTMS) has especially gained interest for its therapeutic potential. However, details of the cellular mechanisms of the effects of rTMS are scarce. Currently favoured are long‐term changes in the efficiency of excitatory synaptic transmission, with low‐frequency rTMS depressing it, but high‐frequency rTMS augmenting. Only recently has modulation of cortical inhibition been considered as an alternative way to explain lasting changes in cortical excitability induced by rTMS. Adequate animal models help to highlight stimulation‐induced changes in cellular processes which are not assessable in human rTMS studies. In this review article, we summarize findings obtained with our rat models which indicate that distinct inhibitory cell classes, like the fast‐spiking cells characterized by parvalbumin expression, are most sensitive to certain stimulation protocols, e.g. intermittent theta burst stimulation. We discuss how our findings can support the recently suggested models of gating and homeostatic plasticity as possible mechanisms of rTMS‐induced changes in cortical excitability.