Multiple bout rTMS on spatial working memory: A comparison study of two cortical areas

• Published in: Biological psychology 2014-07, Vol.100, p.56-59
• Main Authors: Pearce, Alan J., Lum, Jarrad A.G., Seth, Sunaina, Rafael, Olivia, Hsu, Chia-Ming K., Drury, Hannah G.K., Tooley, Gregory A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Memory, Short-Term - physiology; Neuropsychological Tests; Parietal Lobe - physiology; Posterior parietal cortex; Prefrontal Cortex - physiology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Spatial Memory - physiology; Spatial working memory; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0301-0511; 1873-6246
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2014.05.002

It has been established that acute (within-session) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improves spatial working memory (SWM). However, questions remain regarding the safety and effectiveness of multiple bouts of rTMS and the optimal cortical area to stimulate. This preliminary study investigated, in healthy participants, multiple bouts of rTMS over the dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex (DLPFC), or posterior parietal cortex (PPC) on SWM. Twenty participants (10m, 10f), all naïve to rTMS, where randomized into a DLPFC or PPC group, receiving six sessions of rTMS (5Hz at 80% of motor threshold) every second day over two weeks. Prior to and post rTMS bouts, all participants completed testing for SWM measuring individuals’ accuracy, strategy, and speed. Following repeated bouts of rTMS, significant improvements were observed with no contraindications in stimulating PPC but not DLPFC. This preliminary study has demonstrated that repeated rTMS bouts improve SWM safety providing potential for clinical application.