Frequency-specific response in the human hippocampal-cortical network to intracranial theta-burst stimulation
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: The hippocampal-cortical network (HCN) is a distributed set of brain regions, including the medial temporal, ventromedial prefrontal, lateral parietal, and posterior medial cortex, that interact with the hippocampus. Anterior-temporal (AT) and posterior-medial (PM) subsystems of the HCN are proposed to support specific memory processes. Theta-band (∼3–8 Hz) activity is a putative neural mechanism that provides a temporal framework for information coding and binding, coordinates interactions between the hippocampus and HCN regions, and facilitates the recreation of content during memory retrieval. Previous work found distinctions in theta-band activity in the human hippocampus, with low theta frequencies (∼3–5 Hz) more prominent in the anterior hippocampus, and higher theta (∼5–8 Hz) in the posterior hippocampus. We tested the hypothesis that AT and PM subnetworks would respond preferentially to intracranial brain stimulation delivered at different theta frequencies. Invasive electrocorticographic recordings were collected from neurosurgical epilepsy patients while simultaneously delivering direct electrical stimulation at various theta-burst frequencies (3,4,5,6,7,8 Hz). Analyses focused on electrodes in AT and PM regions, as well as data-driven defined subnetworks based on intrinsic connectivity patterns. Change in connectivity between recording and stimulation electrodes, as well as change in power of narrowband oscillations, were compared pre- versus post-stimulation. Electrodes in the AT exhibited power in lower theta-frequencies (∼3–5 Hz), whereas PM electrodes showed an increase in higher theta (∼5–8 Hz) power following stimulation, and changes were related to connectivity patterns. These results suggest that the AT and PM subdivisions of the human HCN may respond differently to invasive theta-burst stimulation, related to endogenous theta oscillations in the anterior versus posterior hippocampus. Our findings provide insight into how brain stimulation may be used to target endogenous network rhythms and motivate future therapies utilizing brain stimulation to treat disorders with associated disruptions in network oscillatory activity. Research Category and Technology and Methods Basic Research: 1. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Keywords: iEEG, theta-burst stimulation, Intracranial stimulation, Hippocampal-cortical network
Source: Brain stimulation
Institutions: Columbia University, National Institutes of Health
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,830
OpenAlex ID: W4320908390