title: Multiple bout rTMS on spatial working memory: a comparison study of two cortical areas.
abstract: It has been established that acute (within-session) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improves spatial working memory (SWM). However, questions remain regarding the safety and effectiveness of multiple bouts of rTMS and the optimal cortical area to stimulate. This preliminary study investigated, in healthy participants, multiple bouts of rTMS over the dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex (DLPFC), or posterior parietal cortex (PPC) on SWM. Twenty participants (10m, 10f), all naïve to rTMS, where randomized into a DLPFC or PPC group, receiving six sessions of rTMS (5Hz at 80% of motor threshold) every second day over two weeks. Prior to and post rTMS bouts, all participants completed testing for SWM measuring individuals' accuracy, strategy, and speed. Following repeated bouts of rTMS, significant improvements were observed with no contraindications in stimulating PPC but not DLPFC. This preliminary study has demonstrated that repeated rTMS bouts improve SWM safety providing potential for clinical application.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Neuroscience Unit, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: alan.pearce@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Neuroscience Unit, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Jarrad A G
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lum
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Neuroscience Unit, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Sunaina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Neuroscience Unit, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rafael
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Neuroscience Unit, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Chia-Ming K
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Neuroscience Unit, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Hannah G K
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Drury
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Neuroscience Unit, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tooley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex; Posterior parietal cortex; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Spatial working memory