Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29615367›Full record

ArticleBrain stimulation

Boosting the LTP-like plasticity effect of intermittent theta-burst stimulation using gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation.

Andrea Guerra, Antonio Suppa, Matteo Bologna, Valentina D'Onofrio, Edoardo Bianchini, Peter Brown, Vincenzo Di Lazzaro, Alfredo Berardelli

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Brain stimulation. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 58 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
58citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06420271 narecruitingnot on this map

Effects of Combined Transcranial Electrical and Magnetic Stimulation of Cerebellum on Balance Function in Ataxia Patients

TypeinterventionalSponsorI.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa LuciaRan2025 to 2026Enrolled30ConditionsAtaxiaArmsReal (real iTBS/tACS + exergaming), Sham (sham iTBS/tACS + exergaming)
NCT07332169 nanot yet recruitingnot on this map

The Efficacy of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation on Cognitive Functions in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Double-Blinded Randomised Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorShahad Abdulrahman AlkandariRan2026 to 2028Enrolled24ConditionsCOPD, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), Cognitive Impairment (CI), Non-invasive Brain StimulationArmsNon-invasive brain stimulation, Sham Non-Invasive brain stimulation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

58 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  4. Safety and recommendations for TMS use in healthy subjects and patient populations, with updates on training, ethical and regulatory issues: Expert Guidelines.Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2021
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Andrea GuerraDepartment of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Antonio SuppaDepartment of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
Matteo BolognaDepartment of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
Valentina D'OnofrioDepartment of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Edoardo BianchiniDepartment of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Peter BrownMedical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom.
Vincenzo Di LazzaroUnit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
Alfredo BerardelliDepartment of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy. Electronic address: alfredo.berardelli@uniroma1.it.

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_UU_12024/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTranscranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) consists in delivering electric current to the brain using an oscillatory pattern that may entrain the rhythmic activity of cortical neurons. When delivered at gamma frequency, tACS modulates motor performance and GABA-A-ergic interneuron activity.

objectiveSince interneuronal discharges play a crucial role in brain plasticity phenomena, here we co-stimulated the primary motor cortex (M1) in healthy subjects by means of tACS during intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), a transcranial magnetic stimulation paradigm known to induce long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity.

methodsWe measured and compared motor evoked potentials before and after gamma, beta and sham tACS-iTBS. While we delivered gamma-tACS, we also measured short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) to detect any changes in GABA-A-ergic neurotransmission.

resultsGamma, but not beta and sham tACS, significantly boosted and prolonged the iTBS-induced after-effects. Interestingly, the extent of the gamma tACS-iTBS after-effects correlated directly with SICI changes.

conclusionsOverall, our findings point to a link between gamma oscillations, interneuronal GABA-A-ergic activity and LTP-like plasticity in the human M1. Gamma tACS-iTBS co-stimulation might represent a new strategy to enhance and prolong responses to plasticity-inducing protocols, thereby lending itself to future applications in the neurorehabilitation setting.

Indexed as

Long-Term PotentiationTheta RhythmAdultEvoked Potentials, MotorFemaleGamma RhythmHumansMaleMotor CortexTranscranial Direct Current StimulationGABA-AGammaInterneuronsPlasticitytACSTMS

Identifiers

PMID29615367
PMCPMC6022811

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.