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rCBF changes elicited by rTMS over DLPFC in humans.
Takashi Ohnishi1, Hiroshi Matsuda, Etsuko Imabayashi
1Department of Radiology, National Center Hospital of Mental, Nervous and Muscular Disorders, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa Higashi, Kodaira City, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan.
Supplements to Clinical Neurophysiology
|August 19, 2005
Summary
Slow repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the right prefrontal cortex increases cerebral blood flow in brain regions associated with mood regulation. This suggests a mechanism for rTMS
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is explored for depression treatment.
- Rapid rTMS over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) shows antidepressant effects.
- Slow rTMS over right DLPFC effectiveness is also suggested, but mechanisms are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurobiological mechanisms of slow rTMS over the right DLPFC.
- To clarify how slow rTMS affects brain activity and blood flow.
Main Methods:
- Used oxygen-15-labeled water positron emission tomography (PET) scanning.
- Measured regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during and after real or sham slow rTMS.
- Included seven healthy subjects.
Main Results:
- Slow rTMS over the right DLPFC increased ipsilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) rCBF during stimulation compared to sham.
- Lasting rCBF increases were observed in the ipsilateral medial prefrontal cortex, contralateral ventrolateral PFC, and contralateral ventral striatum.
- These changes indicate rCBF modulation in paralimbic and frontal regions.
Conclusions:
- Slow rTMS over the right DLPFC induces significant changes in regional cerebral blood flow.
- The observed lasting effects on the ventral striatum suggest modulation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system.
- These findings provide insights into the antidepressant mechanisms of slow rTMS over the DLPFC.