title: Continuous theta burst stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex decreases medium load working memory performance in healthy humans.
abstract: The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) plays a key role in working memory. Evidence indicates that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the DLPFC can interfere with working memory performance. Here we investigated for how long continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) over the DLPFC decreases working memory performance and whether the effect of cTBS on performance depends on working memory load. Forty healthy young subjects received either cTBS over the left DLPFC or sham stimulation before performing a 2-, and 3-back working memory letter task. An additional 0-back condition served as a non-memory-related control, measuring general attention. cTBS over the left DLPFC significantly impaired 2-back working memory performance for about 15 min, whereas 3-back and 0-back performances were not significantly affected. Our results indicate that the effect of left DLPFC cTBS on working memory performance lasts for roughly 15 min and depends on working memory load.
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Psychiatric University Clinics, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schicktanz
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fastenrath
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Psychiatric University Clinics, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milnik
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Klara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spalek
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Auschra
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research, Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Center of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Luzern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nyffeler
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Department Biozentrum, Life Sciences Training Facility, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Psychiatric University Clinics, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papassotiropoulos
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Department Biozentrum, Life Sciences Training Facility, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Psychiatric University Clinics, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dominique J-F
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: de Quervain
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Psychiatric University Clinics, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kyrill
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwegler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation