TMS disruption of the lateral prefrontal cortex increases neural activity in the default mode network when naming facial expressions
David Pitcher, Magdalena Sliwinska, Daniel Kaiser
bioRxiv March 10, 2023 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.09.531897 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental within-subjects fMRI study with TMS |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Human participants performing a covert facial expression naming task |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | Theta-burst TMS over the right lateral prefrontal cortex produced opposite effects across brain networks compared with vertex stimulation: it decreased activity in the left lateral PFC and in all functionally localized face areas, but increased activity in three default mode network nodes. The authors argue these results causally demonstrate that facial expression recognition depends on dynamic interaction between the face processing network and the default mode network. |
Abstract
Recognizing facial expressions is dependent on multiple brain networks specialized for different cognitive functions. In the current study participants ( N =20) were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they performed a covert facial expression naming task. Immediately prior to scanning thetaburst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was delivered over the right lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), or the vertex control site. A group whole-brain analysis revealed that TMS induced opposite effects in the neural responses across different brain networks. Stimulation of the right PFC (compared to stimulation of the vertex) decreased neural activity in the left lateral PFC but increased neural activity in three nodes of the default mode network (DMN): the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), right angular gyrus and the bilateral middle cingulate gyrus. A region of interest (ROI) analysis showed that TMS delivered over the right PFC reduced neural activity across all functionally localised face areas (including in the PFC) compared to TMS delivered over the vertex. These results causally demonstrate that visually recognizing facial expressions is dependent on the dynamic interaction of the face processing network and the DMN. Our study also demonstrates the utility of combined TMS / fMRI studies for revealing the dynamic interactions between different functional brain networks.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on default mode network, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional connectivity of default mode network components: Correlation, anticorrelation, and causality Healthy subjects | 2008 | Observational study using resting-state fMRI and seed correlation analysis | |
| Patterns of Brain Activity Supporting Autobiographical Memory, Prospection, and Theory of Mind, and Their Relationship to the Default Mode Network Healthy subjects | 2009 | Experimental study using fMRI | |
| Dynamic reconfiguration of the default mode network during narrative comprehension Human subjects | 2016 | Experimental study | |
| Broadband Cortical Desynchronization Underlies the Human Psychedelic State Healthy human participants | 2013 | Experimental study | |
| The brain on art: intense aesthetic experience activates the default mode network Human observers | 2012 | Observational study with fMRI and behavioral analysis |