Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on fMRI Resting-State Connectivity in Multiple System Atrophy.

Brain Connect. 2015 Mar 18;

Authors: Chou YH, You H, Wang H, Zhao YP, Hou B, Chen NK, Feng F

Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that has been used to treat neurological and psychiatric conditions. Although results of rTMS intervention are promising, so far little is known about the rTMS effect on brain functional networks in clinical populations. Here we used a whole-brain connectivity analysis of resting-state functional MRI data to uncover changes in functional connectivity following rTMS intervention and their association with motor symptoms in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Patients were randomized to active-rTMS or sham-rTMS group and completed a 10-session 5Hz rTMS treatment over the left primary motor area. The results showed significant rTMS-related changes in motor symptoms and functional connectivity. Specifically, 1) significant improvement of motor symptoms was observed in the active-rTMS group, but not in the sham-rTMS group; and 2) several functional links involving the default mode, cerebellar and limbic networks exhibited positive changes in functional connectivity in the active-rTMS group. Moreover, the positive changes in functional connectivity were associated with improvement in motor symptoms for the active-rTMS group. The present findings suggest that rTMS may improve motor symptoms by modulating functional links connecting to the default mode, cerebellar and limbic networks, inferring a future therapeutic candidate for patients with MSA.

PMID: 25786196 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]