Transcranial magnetic stimulation induces heart rate decelerations independent of treatment outcome

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) is an effective intervention for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Despite its efficacy, the optimal target within the dlPFC remains unclear, as this brain region is large, functionally heterogeneous, and lacks reliable real-time measures of target engagement. One putative biomarker of target engagement is rTMS-induced heart rate deceleration via the fronto-vagal pathway, involving the dlPFC and vagus nerve [1].
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research