title: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cortical excitability in patients with major depressive disorder.
abstract: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is a relatively non-invasive technique with putative therapeutic effects in major depression. However, the exact neurophysiological basis of these effects needs further clarification. Therefore, we studied the impact of ten daily sessions of left, dorsolateral prefrontal rTMS on motor cortical excitability, as revealed by transcranial magnetic stimulation-elicited motor-evoked potentials in 30 patients. As compared to the non-responders, responders (33%) showed changes in parameters pointing towards a reduced cortical excitability. These results suggest that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the dorsolateral, prefrontal cortex may have inhibitory effects on motor cortical neuronal excitability in patients with major depressive disorder. Furthermore, measurement of motor cortical excitability may be a useful tool for investigating and monitoring inhibitory brain effects of antidepressant stimulation techniques like rTMS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Eschenallee 3, 14050 Berlin, Germany. malek.bajbouj@charite.de
authors.forename: Malek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bajbouj
authors.forename: Eva-Lotta
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Brakemeier
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: Undine E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neu
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindowski
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Danker-Hopfe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000528:radiation effects; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome