Multimodal evidence for hippocampal engagement and modulation by functional connectivity-guided parietal TMS
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Hippocampal activity supports memory and many other brain functions. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) guided by hippocampal functional connectivity (FC) shows promise in improving memory, but direct neural evidence of its capacity to engage and modulate hippocampal activity is lacking. Here we combined TMS with intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) in 8 neurosurgical patients and with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 79 neurologically healthy participants. We identified that (1) single-pulse TMS to individualized parietal cortex guided by hippocampal-FC preferentially evoked distinct temporal and spectral activity patterns in the hippocampus, (2) variability in TMS-evoked hippocampal responses related to individual differences in parietal-hippocampus FC strength, and (3) repetitive TMS to hippocampal-FC-guided parietal cortex selectively suppressed hippocampal theta oscillations. These findings provide multimodal causal neural evidence and important mechanistic insights supporting the development of personalized neuromodulation strategies aimed at improving hippocampus-dependent functions.
Source: Nature Communications
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Awards: University of Iowa - Research 3T MRI Connectome Upgrade, Mapping a Causal Prefrontal Pathway for Amygdala Modulation Utilizing Invasive and Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Recording Methods in Humans, Investigating the Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Intracranial EEG in Humans, G2643762061, G2936985921, G3570961274, The Effects of Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy on Explicit and Implicit Suicidal Cognition, G6408087746, Predicting Cognitive Outcomes from Stroke Based on Lesion Location, G8879836498, G9000164534, Investigating the neural mechanisms of repetitive brain stimulation with invasive and noninvasive electrophysiology in humans, Investigating Network Plasticity Effects of Repetitive Brain Stimulation Following Invasive and Noninvasive Methods in Humans
OpenAlex ID: W7134183494