DLPFC Stimulation Suppresses High-Frequency Neural Activity in the Human sgACC

Abstract

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is hypothesized to relieve symptoms of depression by inhibiting activity in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC). However, we have a limited understanding of how TMS influences neural activity in the sgACC, owing to its deep location within the brain. To better understand the mechanism of antidepressant response to TMS, we recruited two neurosurgical patients with indwelling electrodes and delivered TMS pulses to the DLPFC while simultaneously recording local field potentials from the sgACC. Spectral analysis revealed a decrease in high-frequency activity (HFA; 70-180 Hz) after each stimulation pulse, which was especially pronounced in the sgACC relative to other regions. TMS-evoked HFA power was generally anticorrelated between the DLPFC and sgACC, even while low-frequency phase locking between the two regions was enhanced. Together, these findings support the notion that TMS to the DLPFC can suppress neural firing in the sgACC, suggesting a possible mechanism by which this treatment regulates mood.