Extracting visual evoked potentials from EEG data recorded during fMRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) establishes causal links between brain regions and cognitive effects.
• Combining TMS with electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) presents technical challenges, including magnetic pulse artifacts in EEG and precise targeting of fMRI-defined areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a methodology for integrating TMS, EEG, and fMRI for neuroscientific research.
• To detail the process of guiding TMS coils using MRI data, recording EEG during TMS, designing ERP studies, and extracting reliable ERP data.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing anatomical or functional MRI data to guide TMS coil placement.
• Recording EEG signals concurrently with TMS application.
• Designing event-related potential (ERP) studies suitable for combined EEG-TMS analysis.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a methodology for fMRI-guided TMS combined with EEG.
• Showcased results linking face-selective and body-selective ERP components to distinct neural networks in extrastriate cortex.

Conclusions:

• The integrated fMRI-guided TMS-EEG methodology effectively combines high spatial and temporal resolution.
• This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the neural underpinnings of cognitive processes.