What principle is TMS based on?
the principle of electromagnetic inductions
TMS basics what is happening at the level of the coil
TMS - does it have excitatory or inhibitory effects
both - it can both elicit activity and interfere with ongoing electrical activity (virtual lesion)
what are the different types of TMS
single and repetitive - online vs offline effects?
online effect
Looking at behavioural effects WHILE the pulse is being delivered.
repetative pulse stimulation
more than one pulse a second.
rTMS offline effects - what effects the stimulation after-effects
the frequency at which you stimulate n
the effecrts ofTMS depend upon the frequency at which you stimulate
Why was theta burst stimulation ( TBS) created. what are the subtypes?
to enhance the after-effects (longer duration) of repetitive TMS
MEP is the motor evoked threshold - how much activity is needed to elicit a behaviour.
whats the difference between TMS and TDCS?
TDCS - how is the weak current delivered?
the weak current is delivered to the cortex using 2 electrodes (damp sponges) placed on the scalp
so this means wif you change these round you are changing which neurons the current passes through.
how does TMS look vs TDCS
TMS
TDCS
TDCS - what convection is it
conduct the behavioural task you are interested in e.g., visual search task either
Could have stimulation parameter that lasts 15 minutes. might leave it to start having an effect after 5 minutes then test n the remaining 10.
or you could stimulate for 15 minutes and not do anything then as soon as stimulation ends go - right now do the task
TDCS electrods - sizes
large (7x5 cm)
small ( 3x3cm)
so they aren’t particularly small electrodes
What does the efficacy ofTDCS depend on?
different parameters
so higher intensity + smaller electrode size will increase the ELECTRICAL field density
small intensity + large electrode - you spread the stimulation across large area
differences in the lasting effects of excitablity with TMS and TDCS
TMS - 1 pulse effects activity, soon as stimulation stops activity reverts back to normal
TDCS - induces longer lasting changes in excitability (depending on stimulation parameters)
two types of TDCS
Anodal stimulation
cathode stimulation
describe a set up of anodal stimulation
if anode is over the region of interest it should enhance cortical excitability here.
Why does placing the anode over the region of interest INCREASE cortical excitability?
Excitatory (anodal TDCS) causes locally reduced GABA
Stagg et al., (2009)
Why does placing the cathode over the region of interest DECREASE cortical excitability?
Stagg et al., 2009
What did Staggs paper find out when looking at the anodal and cathodal stimulation underlying mechanisms?
Other than the reduction of GABA/Glutaminergic NT’s what other things could modulate the effects of TDCS?
some evidence that TDCS effects are modulated by glial cells.
Ruhenonen and Karhu 2012
What things have people argued modulate the effects of TDCS in the brain?
Disadvantages of TDCS