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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Mapping the After-effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on the Human Auditory Cortex with Functional Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2012
Brain network differences between priming and non-priming intermittent theta burst stimulation: a functional
Chuan Guo1, Ayan Geng1, Yulong Wu1
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China; School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
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According to the theory of bidirectional synaptic plasticity, the threshold for inducing long-term potentiation-like plasticity varies with neuronal activity. Continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) has been proposed as a priming protocol that may modulate neural responses to subsequent intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). This study examined differences between priming and non-priming iTBS conditions in their associations with brain network modulation, assessed at rest and during motor tasks, when targeting the left primary motor cortex. In a randomized crossover design, 26 healthy adults completed six sessions involving two stimulation conditions (priming and non-priming iTBS) and three task paradigms (hand grasping, multi-joint movement, and resting task). The order of stimulation conditions and tasks was randomized. In each session, a single task was performed, and fNIRS data were acquired immediately before and after stimulation. Analyses focused on cortical activation, functional connectivity, and graph theory. During the grasping task, the priming iTBS condition was associated with greater task-evoked activation in the left primary motor cortex and premotor cortex compared with the non-priming iTBS condition. During the multi-joint movement task, priming iTBS condition showed stronger functional connectivity between the left primary motor cortex and left primary somatosensory cortex. No significant between-condition differences were observed during the resting task. In summary, priming and non-priming iTBS conditions differed in cortical activation and sensorimotor connectivity during motor task performance, whereas resting-state network properties remained largely unchanged. These results suggest that priming-related differences in brain network responses are more evident during active motor engagement than at rest. Further studies are required to clarify the underlying mechanisms and functional significance of these effects.
