Low-frequency rTMS in the superior parietal cortex affects the working memory in horizontal axis during the spatial task performance

Abstract

Spatial working memory has been extensively investigated with different tasks, treatments, and analysis tools. Several studies suggest that low frequency of the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the parietal cortex may influence spatial working memory (SWM). However, it is not yet known if after low-frequency rTMS applied to the superior parietal cortex, according to Pz electroencephalography (EEG) electrode, would change the orientation interpretation about the vertical and horizontal axes coordinates in an SWM task. The current study aims at filling this gap and obtains a better understanding of the low-frequency rTMS effect in SWM. In this crossover study, we select 20 healthy subjects in two conditions (control and 1-Hz rTMS). The subjects performed an SWM task with two random coordinates. Our results presented that low-frequency rTMS applied over the superior parietal cortex may influence the SWM to lead to a larger distance of axes interception point (p < 0.05). We conclude that low-frequency rTMS over the superior parietal cortex (SPC) changes the SWM performance, and it has more predominance in horizontal axis.

Potential Targets for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation on Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder

“…We discovered the SPG as a potential target for the first time. SPG is a brain region associated with cognition, such as working memory [ 52 , 53 ], selective attention [ 54 ], and visuospatial attention [ 55 ]. The cognition of DPD patients was found impairment according to previous research [ 7 , 8 , 56 ].…”

Stimulating Memory: Reviewing Interventions Using Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Enhance or Restore Memory Abilities

“…Specifically, Wang and colleagues observed significant improvement in recalling face/word pairs following two sessions of 10 Hz rTMS of the area of superior parietal cortex exhibiting the strongest RSFC with hippocampus [47]. Alternatively, Ribeiro and colleagues observed acute cognitive impairment following one session of 1 Hz of rTMS to superior parietal cortex [64]. Postcentral gyrus has also been targeted due to its functional connections with the insula, despite it not being association cortex [65].…”

“…Less complex but no less important than selection of a stimulation site is targeting of the stimulation site during an rTMS session. Earlier methods using EEG or scalp landmarks [36,64,101] can be substantially improved upon by TMS instruments that support real-time stereotactic alignment of structural MRI data and the participant's physical brain [52,55,57,130]. Extending the same stereotactic coordinates to the TMS coil allows accurate, reproducible targeting of a specific brain region during one or more TMS sessions.…”

Bromazepam changes performance during target shooting but does not affect the interhemispheric coupling in the theta rhythm of the electroencephalography

“…The sample consisted of 60 male subjects, right-handed and healthy, aged between 20 and 30 years. There were two conditions: control (placebo) and experimental (bromazepam-6mg), and subjects were prohibited from using any substance that inhibits or stimulates brain activity (for example, tobacco, coffee, alcohol, caffeine-containing foods, or medications) 14h before or during the study period (Fortunato et al, 2015;Ribeiro et al, 2018). All subjects underwent a medical evaluation to exclude those with neurological or movement disorders that impair task performance, and any contraindications to intake of bromazepam.…”