Demonstration of short-term plasticity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with theta burst stimulation: A TMS-EEG study

•Effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) and continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) were studied in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using TMS-EEG.•iTBS increased N120 amplitude, theta power and long-interval intracortical inhibition of theta oscillations.•cTBS decreased theta power alone.

ObjectivesTo examine the effects of intermittent TBS (iTBS) and continuous TBS (cTBS) on cortical reactivity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.Methods10 healthy participants were stimulated with either iTBS, cTBS or sham at F3 electrode. Single- and paired-pulse TMS and concurrent electroencephalography (EEG) were used to assess change in cortical reactivity and long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI) via TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) and TMS-evoked oscillations.ResultsSignificant increases in N120 amplitudes (p < 0.01) were observed following iTBS over prefrontal cortex. Changes in TMS-evoked theta oscillations and LICI of theta oscillations were also observed following iTBS (increase) and cTBS (decrease). Change in LICI of theta oscillations correlated with change in N120 amplitude following TBS (r = −0.670, p = 0.001).ConclusionsThis study provides preliminary evidence that TBS produces direct changes in cortical reactivity in the prefrontal cortex. Combining TBS with TMS-EEG may be a useful approach to optimise stimulation paradigms prior to the conduct of clinical trials.SignificanceTBS is able to modulate cortical reactivity and cortical inhibition in the prefrontal cortex.