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Extracting Visual Evoked Potentials from EEG Data Recorded During fMRI-guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: May 12, 2014
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Occipital repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation does not affect multifocal visual evoked potentials
Robert Kolbe1, Aykut Aytulun1, Ann-Kristin Müller1
1Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
BMC Neuroscience
|November 24, 2020
Summary
Occipital 10 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) did not alter multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEPs) in healthy participants. This suggests rTMS does not impact visual cortex plasticity measures.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Visual Cortex Plasticity
- Neurostimulation
Background:
- Identifying mechanisms of cortical plasticity in the visual cortex requires sensitive parameters.
- Multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEPs) offer a valuable tool due to their lack of cancellation artifacts and inclusion of the peripheral visual field.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether occipital repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can induce changes in mfVEPs.
- To assess the impact of excitatory, occipital 10 Hz rTMS on visual evoked potential measures.
Main Methods:
- A single-blind crossover study involving 18 healthy participants.
- Participants received sessions of 10 Hz occipital rTMS and sham stimulation.
- mfVEPs were recorded before and after each session, with amplitude and latency changes analyzed using generalized estimation equation models.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in mfVEP amplitude or latency were observed between the verum (rTMS) and sham stimulation groups.
- The findings indicate that occipital 10 Hz rTMS does not produce measurable changes in mfVEP parameters.
Conclusions:
- Occipital 10 Hz rTMS does not appear to affect mfVEP measures in healthy individuals.
- These results align with prior studies utilizing full-field visual evoked potentials, suggesting limited impact on visual cortex plasticity markers.
