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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.08.20.457101

Probing the orientation specificity of excitatory and inhibitory circuitries in the primary motor cortex with multi-channel TMS

Souza, V. H.·Nieminen, J. O.·Tugin, S.·Koponen, L. M.·Baffa, O.·Ilmoniemi, R. J.
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Abstract

BackgroundThe electric field orientation is a crucial parameter for optimizing the excitation of neuronal tissue in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Yet, the effects of stimulus orientation on the short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) paradigms are poorly known, mainly due to significant technical challenges in manipulating the TMS-induced stimulus orientation within milliseconds. ObjectiveOur aim is to assess the effect of the TMS-induced stimulus orientation on the SICI and ICF paradigms and search for the optimal orientations to maximize the facilitation and suppression of the motor evoked potentials (MEP). MethodsWe applied paired-pulse multi-channel TMS in healthy subjects to generate SICI and ICF with conditioning and test pulses in the same, opposite, and perpendicular orientations to each other. The conditioning- and test-stimulus intensities were 80% and 110% of the resting motor threshold, respectively. ResultsBoth SICI and ICF were significantly affected by the conditioning- and test-stimulus orientation. MEP suppression and facilitation were strongest with both pulses delivered in the same direction. SICI with a 2.5-ms and ICF with a 6.0-ms interstimulus interval (ISI) were more sensitive to changes in stimulus orientation compared with SICI at 0.5- and ICF at 8.0-ms ISIs, respectively. ConclusionOur findings provide evidence that SICI and ICF at specific ISIs are mediated by distinct mechanisms. Such mechanisms exhibit a preferential orientation depending on the anatomical and morphological arrangement of inhibitory and excitatory neuronal populations. We also demonstrate that the SICI and ICF can be maximized by adjusting the TMS-induced electric field orientation.

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Souza, V. H., Nieminen, J. O., Tugin, S., Koponen, L. M., Baffa, O., Ilmoniemi, R. J.. 2021-08-23. Probing the orientation specificity of excitatory and inhibitory circuitries in the primary motor cortex with multi-channel TMS. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.20.457101

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