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Non-invasive mapping of calculation function by repetitive navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation

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Abstract

Concerning calculation function, studies have already reported on localizing computational function in patients and volunteers by functional magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation. However, the development of accurate repetitive navigated TMS (rTMS) with a considerably higher spatial resolution opens a new field in cognitive neuroscience. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the feasibility of rTMS for locating cortical calculation function in healthy volunteers, and to establish this technique for future scientific applications as well as preoperative mapping in brain tumor patients. Twenty healthy subjects underwent rTMS calculation mapping using 5 Hz/10 pulses. Fifty-two previously determined cortical spots of the whole hemispheres were stimulated on both sides. The subjects were instructed to perform the calculation task composed of 80 simple arithmetic operations while rTMS pulses were applied. The highest error rate (80 %) for all errors of all subjects was observed in the right ventral precentral gyrus. Concerning division task, a 45 % error rate was achieved in the left middle frontal gyrus. The subtraction task showed its highest error rate (40 %) in the right angular gyrus (anG). In the addition task a 35 % error rate was observed in the left anterior superior temporal gyrus. Lastly, the multiplication task induced a maximum error rate of 30 % in the left anG. rTMS seems feasible as a way to locate cortical calculation function. Besides language function, the cortical localizations are well in accordance with the current literature for other modalities or lesion studies.

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Abbreviations

aMTG:

Anterior middle temporal gyrus

anG:

Angular gyrus

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

aSTG:

Anterior superior temporal gyrus

BOLD-fMRI:

Blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging

CI:

Confidence intervals

CPS:

Cortical parcellation system

DCS:

Direct cortical stimulation

EMG:

Electromyogram

fMRI:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

hIPS:

Horizontal segment of the IPS

IPI:

Inter-picture interval

IPS:

Intraparietal sulcus

ITG:

Inferior temporal gyrus

MEP:

Motor evoked potential

MFG:

Middle frontal gyrus

mMFG:

Middle middle frontal gyrus

nTMS:

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation

oplFG:

Opercular inferior frontal gyrus

OR:

Odds ratio

orIFG:

Orbital part of the inferior frontal gyrus

pMFG:

Posterior middle frontal gyrus

pMTG:

Posterior middle temporal gyrus

polIFG:

Polar inferior frontal gyrus

polMFG:

Polar middle frontal gyrus

polSFG:

Polar superior frontal gyrus

polSTG:

Polar superior temporal gyrus

PSPL:

Posterior superior parietal lobule

pSTG:

Posterior superior temporal gyrus

PTI:

Picture-to-trigger interval

rMT:

Resting motor threshold

rTMS:

Repetitive navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation

TMS:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

VAS:

Visual analogue scale

vPrG:

Ventral precentral gyrus

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Stefanie Maurer, Nico Sollmann, Theresa Hauck, Sebastian Ille, Bernhard Meyer & Sandro M. Krieg

  2. TUM-Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Stefanie Maurer, Nico Sollmann, Theresa Hauck, Sebastian Ille, Bernhard Meyer & Sandro M. Krieg

  3. Faculty of Linguistics, Philology, & Phonetics, University of Oxford, Walton Street, Oxford, OX1 2HG, UK

    Noriko Tanigawa

  4. Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Tobias Boeckh-Behrens

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  1. Stefanie Maurer
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  2. Noriko Tanigawa
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  3. Nico Sollmann
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  4. Theresa Hauck
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  7. Bernhard Meyer
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  8. Sandro M. Krieg
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Correspondence to Sandro M. Krieg.

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Conflict of interest

S.K. is a consultant for BrainLAB AG (Feldkirchen, Germany). All other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest concerning this current study. The study was completely financed by institutional grants of the Department of Neurosurgery and the Section of Neuroradiology. The authors report no conflict of interest affecting the materials or methods used in this study or the findings specified in this paper.

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Maurer, S., Tanigawa, N., Sollmann, N. et al. Non-invasive mapping of calculation function by repetitive navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation. Brain Struct Funct 221, 3927–3947 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-015-1136-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-015-1136-2

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