TMS Intensities in Cognitive Paradigms
Author Information
Author(s): Kaminski Jakob A., Korb Franziska M., Villringer Arno, Ott Derek V. M.
Primary Institution: Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Hypothesis
Is it reasonable to adjust stimulation intensities in each subject to the individual motor threshold when stimulating prefrontal regions prior to cognitive tasks?
Conclusion
Adjusting stimulation intensities based on individual motor thresholds does not lead to stable effects in cognitive performance.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants with lower motor thresholds showed greater behavioral effects when stimulated at a fixed intensity.
- Individually adapted stimulation did not yield significant improvements in task performance.
- Motor threshold was correlated with task performance in the fixed intensity condition.
Takeaway
The study looked at how to set the strength of brain stimulation for different people. It found that using a person's individual strength didn't always help them do better on memory tasks.
Methodology
Repetitive TMS was applied before a working memory task at either a fixed intensity or an individually adapted intensity based on motor threshold.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the selection of a control site for TMS stimulation.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize to other brain areas or tasks, and the effects of TMS may vary based on individual differences in brain anatomy.
Participant Demographics
Fifteen right-handed male participants with a mean age of 24.7 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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