Public Health

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Neuromodulation

Background:

• The cerebellum is increasingly recognized for its role in non-motor functions, including cognition and emotion.
• Cerebellar synaptic plasticity suggests its potential for cognitive modulation therapies.
• Previous research indicated 5Hz rTMS improves cognition, while iTBS shows stronger oscillatory activity and cognitive benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of 5Hz rTMS and iTBS on working memory when applied to the cerebellar Crus II region.
• To explore the underlying neural mechanisms of these effects using EEG.
• To compare the efficacy of different TMS protocols for cognitive enhancement.

Main Methods:

• Sixty healthy adults received 5Hz rTMS, iTBS, or sham stimulation targeting the right cerebellar Crus II region.
• Participants completed a 2-back working memory task before and after intervention.
• EEG recorded signals for analysis of behavioral performance, ERPs, time-frequency changes, and brain network topology.

Main Results:

• Both 5Hz rTMS and iTBS improved working memory reaction times compared to sham; 5Hz rTMS showed a more pronounced effect.
• 5Hz rTMS significantly increased P150 amplitudes and enhanced θ and α oscillations compared to iTBS and sham.
• Both active TMS protocols increased global network efficiency in the θ frequency band.

Conclusions:

• 5Hz rTMS applied to the cerebellar Crus II region demonstrated superior enhancement of brain oscillatory activity and working memory performance over iTBS.
• These results provide crucial data for optimizing cerebellar TMS parameters to improve memory functions.
• The study highlights the potential of targeted cerebellar neuromodulation for cognitive enhancement.