The investigators previous pilot study showed that the brain remained activated after 3 minutes of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). Therefore, an open question remains that how long the effects will last and when the maximum effects will be achieved. In addition, many pioneering works showed the positive effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on working memory. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) is a patterned form of rTMS, it has shown a non-inferior efficacy in depression but with a much shorter time (approximately 3 mins) than traditional rTMS (approximately 40 mins). As discussed above, this study aims to investigate the effects of prefrontal iTBS on working memory using concurrent iTBS/fNIRS and to explore the duration of the effects.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
31
Active intermittent TBS (iTBS) will be applied to the left DLPFC at 80% of the resting motor threshold (rMT) (Hoy et al., 2016). A stimulation, where 3-pulse at 50 Hz will be given, will repeat every 10 s for a total of 190 s (600 pulses in total) (Huang et al., 2005). The left DLPFC stimulation site will be determined using the neuronavigator system (lDLPFC, x-38, y+44, z+26).
Sham intermittent TBS (iTBS) will be applied to the left DLPFC at 80% of the resting motor threshold (rMT) (Hoy et al., 2016). The coil will be placed perpendicular to the left DLPFC. A stimulation, where 3-pulse at 50 Hz will be given, will repeat every 10 s for a total of 190 s (600 pulses in total) (Huang et al., 2005). The left DLPFC stimulation site will be determined using the neuronavigator system (lDLPFC, x-38, y+44, z+26).
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
N-back
The accuracy number of each n-back task
Time frame: before and post iTBS, up to 3 months
N-back
The response time of each n-back task
Time frame: before and post iTBS, up to 3 months
Hemoglobin change
The hemoglobin change throughout whole procedure.
Time frame: before and post iTBS, up to 3 months
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