title: Theta Burst Stimulation of the Precuneus Modulates Resting State Connectivity in the Left Temporal Pole.
abstract: It has been shown that continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the precuneus acts on specific memory retrieval abilities. In order to study the neural mechanisms beyond these findings, we combined cTBS and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Our experimental protocol involved stimulation and sham conditions on a group of healthy subjects, and each condition included a baseline and two follow-up acquisitions (5 and 15 min after baseline) after cTBS. We analysed brain functional connectivity by means of graph theoretical measures, with a specific focus on the network modular structure. Our results showed that cTBS of the precuneus selectively affects the left temporal pole, decreasing its functional connectivity in the first follow-up. Moreover, we observed a significant increase in the size of the module of the precuneus in the second follow-up. Such effects were absent in the sham condition. We observed here a modulation of functional connectivity as a result of inhibitory stimulation over the precuneus. Such a modulation first acts indirectly on the temporal area and then extends the connectivity of the precuneus itself by a feed-back mechanism. Our current findings extend our previous behavioural observations and increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the stimulation of the precuneus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, University of Rome, "Roma Tre", Via Vito Volterra 62, 00154, Rome, Italy. matteo.mancini@uniroma3.it.|Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy. matteo.mancini@uniroma3.it.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7194-4568
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mastropasqua
authors.affiliation: Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonnì
authors.affiliation: Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ponzo
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy.|Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RR, East Sussex, UK.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cercignani
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, University of Rome, "Roma Tre", Via Vito Volterra 62, 00154, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conforto
authors.affiliation: Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy.|Stroke Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozzali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009433:Neural Inhibition; D009434:Neural Pathways; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Functional connectivity; Graph theory; Precuneus; TMS; cTBS; fMRI