The effect of cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on electrical brain activity detected by low resolution electromagnetic tomography
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have detected EEG, cognitive and motor cortex modulation after cerebellar repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS). The aim of our study was to determine a) if these findings actually reflect cerebellar rTMS or rather neck muscle magnetic stimulation (MMS), and b) if cerebellar rTMS modulates frontal cortex activity.
Methods: EEG recordings were obtained from 6 right-handed healthy volunteers before and after 1) rTMS applied over the right cerebellar hemisphere and 2) MMS applied over the right muscle trapezius. We used 20 minutes of 10 Hz rTMS and MMS with 1200 impulses.
The spatial distribution of the rTMS and MMS-induced changes in the electrical brain activity were assessed using low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Results: Right cerebellar rTMS increased the power density in the delta, theta, alpha-1 and beta-2 frequency bands.
Power increments in the delta, theta and beta-2 bands were found predominantly over the frontal and parietal lobes,