Early TMS-evoked potentials to track cortico-cortical connectivity changes

COEX 

Current advances in EEG systems allow to extract cortical responses evoked by TMS pulses, i.e., TMS-evoked potentials, very early after the TMS pulse. Here, I will show evidence that these responses contain unique information on the network in which the stimulated area is embedded. Several studies suggest that TEPs represent secondary responses of distant areas connected to the initial target. Features of very early-latency TEPs are associated with structural and functional connectivity measures of specific white matter tracks and are modulated during task execution. Moreover, given the high temporal and spatial resolution of TMS, it is possible to exploit TEPs to track changes in cortico-cortical connectivity during task execution and gain a better understanding of the physiological mechanisms that subtend behaviour.