Transcranial magnetic stimulation, causal structure-function mapping and networks of functional relevance

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Brain Imaging

Background:

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a validated non-invasive technique for transiently modulating brain activity in humans.
• Recent advancements increasingly utilize TMS to probe causal links between neural processing and behavior in higher cognitive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the value of combining TMS with functional brain imaging.
• To investigate causal brain-behavior relationships in cognitive functions.
• To identify functional brain networks and enable causal inferences across the brain.

Main Methods:

• Non-invasive brain stimulation using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
• Simultaneous functional brain imaging techniques.
• Behavioral performance monitoring during neural interference.

Main Results:

• The combination of TMS and functional brain imaging allows for concurrent stimulation and monitoring of brain activity and behavior.
• This integrated approach facilitates the investigation of causal brain-behavior relationships.
• It aids in identifying brain networks critical for cognitive functions.

Conclusions:

• Simultaneous TMS and functional brain imaging is a valuable approach for understanding the human brain.
• This methodology enables causal brain-behavior inferences across the entire brain.
• It advances the study of higher cognitive functions and their neural underpinnings.