Induced Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Autonomic Nervous System and the Cardiac Rhythm

Authors

Mercedes Cabrerizo, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International UniversityFollow
Anastasio Cabrera, Department of Electrical an Computer Engineering, Florida International University
Juan O. Perez, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International UniversityFollow
Jesus de la Rua, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University
Niovi Rojas, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International UniversityFollow
Qi Zhou, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International UniversityFollow
Alberto Pinzon-Ardila, Neuroscience Consultants; Baptist Hospital of MiamiFollow
Sergio M. Gonzalez-Arias, Baptist Hospital of Miami; Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International UniversityFollow
Malek Adjouadi, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

7-17-2014

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Several standard protocols based on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have been employed for treatment of a variety of neurological disorders.Despite their advantages in patients that are retractable to medication, there is a lack of knowledge about the effects of rTMSon the autonomic nervous systemthat controls the cardiovascular system.Current understanding suggests that the shape of the so-called QRS complex together with the size of the different segments and intervals between the PQRST deflections of the heart could predict the nature of the different arrhythmias and ailments affecting the heart. This preliminary study involving 10 normal subjects from 20 to 30 years of age demonstrated that rTMS can induce changes in the heart rhythm. The autonomic activity that controls the cardiac rhythm was indeed altered by an rTMS session targeting the motor cortex using intensity below the subject’s motor threshold and lasting no more than 5 minutes.The rTMS activation resulted in a reduction of the RR intervals (cardioacceleration) in most cases.Most of these cases also showed significant changes in the Poincare plot descriptor SD2 (long-term variability), the area under the low frequency (LF) power spectrum density curve, and the low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) ratio.The RR intervals changed significantly in specific instants of time during rTMS activation showing either heart rate acceleration or heart rate deceleration.

Comments

Originally published in The Scientific World Journal.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Mercedes Cabrerizo, Anastasio Cabrera, Juan O. Perez, et al., “Induced Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Autonomic Nervous System and the Cardiac Rhythm,” The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2014, Article ID 349718, 12 pages, 2014. doi:10.1155/2014/349718