Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation changes cognitive/motor tasks performance: An absolute alpha and beta
Jessé Di Giacomo1, Mariana Gongora2, Farmy Silva2
1Brain Mapping and Sensory Motor Integration, Institute of Psychiatry of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IPUB/UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro (IFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Neuroscience Letters
|April 4, 2021
Summary
Low-frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) applied to the sensory-motor cortex impacts cognitive functions during motor tasks. This brain stimulation affects frontal activity during movement execution, observation, and motor imagery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Motor Science
Background:
- Voluntary movement requires cognitive and motor function integration.
- Cognitive and motor functions can appear independent during motor learning or demanding tasks.
- Motor imagery (MI) utilizes brain regions similar to actual motor task execution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the inhibitory effects of low-frequency (1 Hz) Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on cognitive functions.
- To examine changes in alpha and beta power in frontal regions during finger movement execution, action observation, and motor imagery.
- To assess these effects at the Cz sensory-motor integration site.
Main Methods:
- Eleven healthy volunteers performed finger movement execution, action observation, and motor imagery tasks.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) recorded brain activity during these tasks.
- Participants underwent 15 minutes of low-frequency rTMS before repeating the tasks.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction was observed between rTMS and the three tasks across most analyzed brain regions.
- Low-frequency rTMS modulated frontal region activity during execution, observation, and motor imagery.
- EEG data revealed changes in alpha and beta power spectra.
Conclusions:
- Low-frequency rTMS at the Cz site influences cognitive processing related to motor tasks.
- Brain stimulation can alter neural activity associated with motor execution, observation, and imagery.
- Findings highlight the interplay between cognitive and motor functions and the impact of non-invasive brain stimulation.
