TY - JOUR
T1 - Trait-dependent effects of theta burst stimulation after psychosocial stress
T2 - a sham-controlled study in healthy individuals
AU - De Smet, Stefanie
AU - Int-Veen, Isabell
AU - Vanhollebeke, Gert
AU - Pulopulos, Matias M
AU - Barth, Beatrix
AU - Pasche, Sarah
AU - Baeken, Chris
AU - Nuerk, Hans-Christoph
AU - Plewnia, Christian
AU - Nieratschker, Vanessa
AU - Jochen Fallgatter, Andreas
AU - Ehlis, Ann-Christine
AU - Vanderhasselt, Marie-Anne
AU - Rosenbaum, David
PY - 2024/3/19
Y1 - 2024/3/19
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Previous studies suggest that theta burst stimulation (TBS), a form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) might be a promising approach to modulate stress-reactive rumination and the associated psychophysiological stress response. Crucially, individuals showing higher levels of trait rumination might benefit more from prefrontal stimulation. METHODS: In this sham-controlled study, 127 healthy individuals, with varying ruminative tendencies, received a single-session of intermittent TBS (iTBS), continuous TBS (cTBS) or sham TBS (sTBS) over the left DLPFC before being confronted with a Trier Social Stress Test. RESULTS: Results showed significant TBS effects on salivary cortisol as a function of trait rumination. cTBS, as compared to sTBS and iTBS, resulted in an attenuated stress-induced cortisol response in high compared to low trait ruminators. Although independent of trait rumination levels, cTBS showed positive effects on stress-related changes in mood and, both cTBS and iTBS (versus sham) presented an enhanced heart rate recovery following the stressor. We found no evidence for (trait rumination-dependent) TBS effects on stress-reactive rumination, negative affect, subjective stress or heart rate variability. CONCLUSIONS: cTBS shows beneficial effects on certain measures of stress, especially in high trait ruminators. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings highlight the importance of accounting for individual differences when examining TBS effects.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Previous studies suggest that theta burst stimulation (TBS), a form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) might be a promising approach to modulate stress-reactive rumination and the associated psychophysiological stress response. Crucially, individuals showing higher levels of trait rumination might benefit more from prefrontal stimulation. METHODS: In this sham-controlled study, 127 healthy individuals, with varying ruminative tendencies, received a single-session of intermittent TBS (iTBS), continuous TBS (cTBS) or sham TBS (sTBS) over the left DLPFC before being confronted with a Trier Social Stress Test. RESULTS: Results showed significant TBS effects on salivary cortisol as a function of trait rumination. cTBS, as compared to sTBS and iTBS, resulted in an attenuated stress-induced cortisol response in high compared to low trait ruminators. Although independent of trait rumination levels, cTBS showed positive effects on stress-related changes in mood and, both cTBS and iTBS (versus sham) presented an enhanced heart rate recovery following the stressor. We found no evidence for (trait rumination-dependent) TBS effects on stress-reactive rumination, negative affect, subjective stress or heart rate variability. CONCLUSIONS: cTBS shows beneficial effects on certain measures of stress, especially in high trait ruminators. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings highlight the importance of accounting for individual differences when examining TBS effects.
KW - Cortisol
KW - Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)
KW - Psychophysiology
KW - Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
KW - Rumination
KW - Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS)
KW - Trier Social Stress Test
U2 - 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.03.016
DO - 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.03.016
M3 - Article
SN - 1388-2457
JO - Clinical Neurophysiology
JF - Clinical Neurophysiology
ER -