Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Changes Response Selectivity of Neurons in the Visual Cortex.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used to selectively alter neuronal activity of specific regions in the cerebral cortex. TMS is reported to induce either transient disruption or enhancement of different neural functions. However, its effects on tuning properties of sensory neurons have not been studied quantitatively.

Objective/hypothesis

Here, we use specific TMS application parameters to determine how they may alter tuning characteristics (orientation, spatial frequency, and contrast sensitivity) of single neurons in the cat's visual cortex.

Methods

Single unit spikes were recorded with tungsten microelectrodes from the visual cortex of anesthetized and paralyzed cats (12 males). Repetitive TMS (4 Hz, 4 s) was delivered with a 70 mm figure-8 coi

SUBMITTER: Kim T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4461488 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature