Asymmetric Interhemispheric Transfer in the Auditory Network: Evidence from TMS, Resting-State fMRI, and Diffusion Imaging.
Hemispheric asymmetries in human auditory cortical function and structure are still highly debated. Brain stimulation approaches can complement correlational techniques by uncovering causal influences. Previous studies have shown asymmetrical effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on task performance, but it is unclear whether these effects are task-specific or reflect intrinsic network properties. To test how modulation of auditory cortex (AC) influences functional networks and whether this influence is asymmetrical, the present study measured resting-state fMRI connectivity networks in 17 healthy volunteers before and immediately after TMS (continuous theta burst stimulation) to the left or right AC, and the vertex as a control. We also examined the relationship between TMS-induced interhemispheric signal propagation and anatomical properties of callosal auditory fibers as measured with diffusion-weighted MRI. We found that TMS to the right AC, but not the left, resulted in widespread connectivity decreases in auditory- and motor-related networks in the resting state. Individual differences in the degree of change in functional connectivity between auditory cortices after TMS applied over the right AC were negatively related to the volume of callosal auditory fibers. The findings show that TMS-induced network modulation occurs, even in the absence of an explicit task, and that the magnitude of the effect differs across individuals as a function of callosal structure, supporting a role for the corpus callosum in mediating functional asymmetry. The findings support theoretical models emphasizing hemispheric differences in network organization and are of practical significance in showing that brain stimulation studies need to take network-level effects into account.
Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany, and Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada and International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada jamila.andoh@zi.mannheim.de robert.zatorre@mcgill.ca.
Jamila
J
Andoh
Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada and International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
Reiko
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7081-8292
R
Matsushita
Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada and International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada jamila.andoh@zi.mannheim.de robert.zatorre@mcgill.ca.
Robert J
RJ
Zatorre
D000328:Adult; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000502:physiology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
callosal auditory fibers; interleaved silent steady state; probabilistic tractography; resting-state fMRI; theta burst stimulation