Transcranial magnetic stimulation effects support an oscillatory model of ERP genesis

Trajkovic, J., Di Gregorio, F., Thut, G. and Romei, V. (2024) Transcranial magnetic stimulation effects support an oscillatory model of ERP genesis. Current Biology, 34(5), pp. 1048-1058. (doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.069) (PMID:38377998)

Abstract

Whether prestimulus oscillatory brain activity contributes to the generation of post-stimulus-evoked neural responses has long been debated, but findings remain inconclusive. We first investigated the hypothesized relationship via EEG recordings during a perceptual task with this correlational evidence causally probed subsequently by means of online rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation. Both approaches revealed a close link between prestimulus individual alpha frequency (IAF) and P1 latency, with faster IAF being related to shorter latencies, best explained via phase-reset mechanisms. Moreover, prestimulus alpha amplitude predicted P3 size, best explained via additive (correlational and causal evidence) and baseline shift mechanisms (correlational evidence), each with distinct prestimulus alpha contributors. Finally, in terms of performance, faster prestimulus IAF and shorter P1 latencies were both associated with higher task accuracy, while lower prestimulus alpha amplitudes and higher P3 amplitudes were associated with higher confidence ratings. Our results are in favor of the oscillatory model of ERP genesis and modulation, shedding new light on the mechanistic relationship between prestimulus oscillations and functionally relevant evoked components.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: V.R. is supported by the Italian MUR – Ministry of University (P2022XAKXL and 2022H4ZRSN) and by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacio´ n y Universidades (PID2019-111335GA-100).
• Keywords: EEG, alpha rhythm, transcranial magnetic stimulation, P300, TMS, evoked responses, visual awareness, visual perception, P100, oscillatory entrainment
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Thut, Professor Gregor
• Authors: Trajkovic, J., Di Gregorio, F., Thut, G., and Romei, V.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Current Biology
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press)
• ISSN: 0960-9822
• ISSN (Online): 1879-0445
• Published Online: 19 February 2024
• Copyright Holders: Copyright: © 2024 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Current Biology 34(5): 1048-1058
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence