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A Novel Approach for Documenting Phosphenes Induced by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: April 1, 2010
Enhanced visual perception with occipital transcranial magnetic stimulation
Manon Mulckhuyse1, Todd A Kelley, Jan Theeuwes
1Department of Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Manon.Mulckhuyse@UGent.be
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|August 19, 2011
Summary
Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied to the occipital pole can enhance visual perception. This non-invasive brain stimulation technique improved orientation discrimination in a specific visual field.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Visual Perception Research
Background:
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the occipital pole typically causes disruptive effects, like phosphenes.
- Previous research has focused on the disruptive rather than facilitatory effects of occipital TMS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for location-specific facilitatory effects of single-pulse occipital TMS on human visual perception.
- To determine if occipital TMS can enhance visual cortex excitability before stimulus presentation.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a spatial cueing orientation discrimination task.
- Single-pulse TMS was applied below phosphene threshold to the occipital pole 150 or 200 ms before visual stimulus onset.
- Target discrimination accuracy was measured in contralateral and ipsilateral visual fields.
Main Results:
- Single-pulse occipital TMS at 150 or 200 ms pre-stimulus onset facilitated target discrimination in the contralateral visual field compared to the ipsilateral.
- At the 150 ms interval, contralateral TMS amplified cueing effects, enhancing valid cue facilitation and invalid cue interference.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first evidence of location-specific enhanced visual perception using single-pulse occipital TMS prior to stimulus presentation.
- Occipital TMS can modulate visual cortex excitability, leading to improved subsequent visual perception.
