Neuro-Cardiac-Guided TMS (NCG-TMS): Probing DLPFC-sgACC-vagus nerve connectivity using heart rate - First results

Tabitha A. Iseger*, Frank Padberg, J. Leon Kenemans, Richard Gevirtz, Martijn Arns

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Given that many studies suggest a role of DLPFC-sgACC connectivity in depression and prior research demonstrating that neuromodulation of either of these nodes modulates parasympathetic activity and results in a heart rate deceleration, a new method is proposed to individualize localization of the DLPFC. This can, among others, be useful for rTMS treatment of depression.

Methods: Ten healthy subjects received three trains of 10Hz rTMS randomly over 7 target regions (10-20 system).

Results: Overall, F3 and F4 expressed the largest heart rate deceleration, in line with studies suggesting these are the best 10-20 sites to target the DLPFC. On the individual level, 20-40% subjects expressed the largest heart rate deceleration at FC3 or FC4, indicating individual differences as to the 'optimal site for stimulation'.

Conclusions: These results show that the NCG-TMS method is valid to localize the entry into the DLPFC-sgACC network. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1006-1008
Number of pages3
JournalBrain stimulation
Volume10
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Vagus nerve
  • DLPFC
  • Heart rate
  • rTMS
  • Neuronavigation
  • Depression
  • TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION
  • DORSOLATERAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX
  • DEPRESSION
  • TARGETS

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