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- Title
Static Magnetic Field Stimulation over the Visual Cortex Increases Alpha Oscillations and Slows Visual Search in Humans.
- Authors
Gonzalez-Rosa, Javier J.; Soto-Leon, Vanesa; Real, Pablo; Carrasco-Lopez, Carmen; Foffani, Guglielmo; Strange, Bryan A.; Oliviero, Antonio
- Abstract
Transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) was recently introduced as a promising tool to modulate human cerebral excitability in a noninvasive and portable way. However, a demonstration that static magnetic fields can influence human brain activity and behavior is currently lacking, despite evidence that static magnetic fields interfere with neuronal function in animals. Here we show that transcranial application of a static magnetic field (120 -200 mT at 2-3 cm from the magnet surface) over the human occiput produces a focal increase in the power of alpha oscillations in underlying cortex. Critically, this neurophysiological effect of tSMS is paralleled by slowed performance in a visual search task, selectively for the most difficult target detection trials. The typical relationship between prestimulus alpha power over posterior cortical areas and reaction time (RT) to targets during tSMS is altered such that tSMS-dependent increases in alpha power are associated with longer RTs for difficult, but not easy, target detection trials. Our results directly demonstrate that a powerful magnet placed on the scalp modulates normal brain activity and induces behavioral changes in humans.
- Subjects
VISUAL cortex; TRANSCRANIAL magnetic stimulation; CEREBRAL cortex; EXCITATION (Physiology); NONINVASIVE diagnostic tests
- Publication
Journal of Neuroscience, 2015, Vol 35, Issue 24, p9182
- ISSN
0270-6474
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4232-14.2015