title: The after-effect of human theta burst stimulation is NMDA receptor dependent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide pharmacological evidence that the after-effects of theta burst stimulation (TBS) involve plasticity like changes in cortical synaptic connections, using the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist memantine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a double blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of memantine on the response of six healthy volunteers to TBS. We measured rest (RMT) and active (AMT) motor thresholds, and the amplitude of MEPs before and after continuous and intermittent TBS (cTBS/iTBS) after the administration of placebo or memantine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Memantine had no effect on RMT and AMT, while it blocked the suppressive effect of cTBS and the facilitatory effect of iTBS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effects of iTBS and cTBS rely on NMDARs to produce after-effects in the motor cortex of conscious humans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NMDA dependency of the after-effects of TBS adds to the understanding of the underlying mechanism of TBS, and suggests that these after-effects are likely to involve plasticity like changes at synaptic connections in motor cortex.
authors: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taipei 10507, Taiwan. yzhuang@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors: Ying-Zu
authors: YZ
authors: Huang
authors: Rou-Shayn
authors: RS
authors: Chen
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: Rothwell
authors: Hsin-Yi
authors: HY
authors: Wen
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008559:Memantine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D008559:Memantine