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Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to the Unilateral Hemisphere of Rat Brain
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BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism modulates brain activity following rTMS-induced memory impairment
Kilian Abellaneda-Pérez1,2, Pablo Martin-Trias1,2, Catherine Cassé-Perrot3
1Medical Psychology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, C/ Casanova, 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
Scientific Reports
|January 8, 2022
Summary
The BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism influences transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) memory effects. Val/Val carriers showed reduced memory performance and increased frontal brain activity with left frontal cortex stimulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism affects brain plasticity and individual responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
- Its role in TMS-induced memory effects and underlying neural mechanisms is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on TMS-induced memory effects.
- To explore the neural mechanisms associated with these effects using functional MRI (fMRI).
Main Methods:
- Repetitive TMS (rTMS) was applied over the left frontal cortex (LFC) or vertex during a visual memory encoding task.
- Participants underwent fMRI during a recognition memory phase.
- Participants were genotyped for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (Met allele carriers vs. Val/Val individuals).
Main Results:
- rTMS over LFC reduced memory performance in Val/Val individuals compared to vertex stimulation.
- Val/Val carriers showed greater fMRI brain activity in frontal regions during memory recognition, correlating positively with performance.
- Met allele carriers did not exhibit these effects.
Conclusions:
- The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism modulates the cognitive and neural effects of rTMS on memory.
- This genetic variant influences neuroplasticity and individual differences in TMS response.
- Findings offer insights into personalized TMS interventions for cognitive enhancement.
