TMS-induced cortical potentiation during wakefulness locally increases slow wave activity during sleep.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sleep slow wave activity (SWA) is thought to reflect sleep need, increasing in proportion to the length of prior wakefulness and decreasing during sleep. However, the process responsible for SWA regulation is not known. We showed recently that SWA increases locally after a learning task involving a circumscribed brain region, suggesting that SWA may reflect plastic changes triggered by learning.

Methodology/principal findings

To test this hypothesis directly, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in conjunction with high-density EEG in humans. We show that 5-Hz TMS applied to motor cortex induces a localized potentiation of TMS-evoked cortical EEG responses. We then show that, in the sleep episode following 5-Hz TMS, SWA increases markedly (+39.1+/-17.4%

SUBMITTER: Huber R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1803030 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature