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Low-frequency rTMS in the superior parietal cortex affects the working memory in horizontal axis during the spatial task performance

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Abstract

Spatial working memory has been extensively investigated with different tasks, treatments, and analysis tools. Several studies suggest that low frequency of the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the parietal cortex may influence spatial working memory (SWM). However, it is not yet known if after low-frequency rTMS applied to the superior parietal cortex, according to Pz electroencephalography (EEG) electrode, would change the orientation interpretation about the vertical and horizontal axes coordinates in an SWM task. The current study aims at filling this gap and obtains a better understanding of the low-frequency rTMS effect in SWM. In this crossover study, we select 20 healthy subjects in two conditions (control and 1-Hz rTMS). The subjects performed an SWM task with two random coordinates. Our results presented that low-frequency rTMS applied over the superior parietal cortex may influence the SWM to lead to a larger distance of axes interception point (p < 0.05). We conclude that low-frequency rTMS over the superior parietal cortex (SPC) changes the SWM performance, and it has more predominance in horizontal axis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brain Mapping and Plasticity Laboratory, Federal University of Piauí, Av. São Sebastião no. 2819, Nossa Sra. de Fátima, Parnaíba, PI, 64202-020, Brazil

    Jéssica Alves Ribeiro, Francisco Victor Costa Marinho, Kaline Rocha, Francisco Magalhães & Silmar Teixeira

  2. The Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

    Francisco Victor Costa Marinho, Kaline Rocha, Francisco Magalhães & Silmar Teixeira

  3. Center for Mathematics, Computation and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Abrahão Fontes Baptista

  4. Brain Mapping and Sensorimotor Integration Laboratory, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Bruna Velasques, Pedro Ribeiro & Mauricio Cagy

  5. Brain Mapping and Functionality Laboratory, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Brazil

    Victor Hugo Bastos

  6. Department of Biology, Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ, USA

    Daya Gupta

Authors
  1. Jéssica Alves Ribeiro
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  2. Francisco Victor Costa Marinho
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  3. Kaline Rocha
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  4. Francisco Magalhães
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  5. Abrahão Fontes Baptista
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  6. Bruna Velasques
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  7. Pedro Ribeiro
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  8. Mauricio Cagy
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  9. Victor Hugo Bastos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francisco Victor Costa Marinho.

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Participants signed the free and informed consent term. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (no. 520.189).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Ribeiro, J.A., Marinho, F.V.C., Rocha, K. et al. Low-frequency rTMS in the superior parietal cortex affects the working memory in horizontal axis during the spatial task performance. Neurol Sci 39, 527–532 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-3243-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-3243-8

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