The impact of GABAergic drugs on TMS-induced brain oscillations in human motor cortex

Neuroimage. 2017 Dec:163:1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.09.023. Epub 2017 Sep 14.

Abstract

Brain responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as measured with electroencephalography (EEG) have so far been assessed either by TMS-evoked EEG potentials (TEPs), mostly reflecting phase-locked neuronal activity, or time-frequency-representations (TFRs), reflecting oscillatory power arising from a mixture of both evoked (i.e., phase-locked) and induced (i.e., non-phase-locked) responses. Single-pulse TMS of the human primary motor cortex induces a specific pattern of oscillatory changes, characterized by an early (30-200 ms after TMS) synchronization in the α- and β-bands over the stimulated sensorimotor cortex and adjacent lateral frontal cortex, followed by a late (200-400 ms) α- and β-desynchronization over the stimulated and contralateral sensorimotor cortex. As GABAergic inhibition plays an important role in shaping oscillatory brain activity, we sought here to understand if GABAergic inhibition contributes to these TMS-induced oscillations. We tested single oral doses of alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem (positive modulators of the GABAA receptor), and baclofen (specific GABAB receptor agonist). Diazepam and zolpidem enhanced, and alprazolam tended to enhance while baclofen decreased the early α-synchronization. Alprazolam and baclofen enhanced the early β-synchronization. Baclofen enhanced the late α-desynchronization, and alprazolam, diazepam and baclofen enhanced the late β-desynchronization. The observed GABAergic drug effects on TMS-induced α- and β-band oscillations were not explained by drug-induced changes on corticospinal excitability, muscle response size, or resting-state EEG power. Our results provide first insights into the pharmacological profile of TMS-induced oscillatory responses of motor cortex.

Keywords: Electroencephalography; GABA; Oscillations; Pharmaco-TMS-EEG; Transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cortical Synchronization / drug effects*
  • Cortical Synchronization / physiology
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor / drug effects*
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology
  • Female
  • GABA Modulators / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Cortex / drug effects*
  • Motor Cortex / physiology
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • GABA Modulators