Background
Transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) using a small and strong neodymium (NdFeB) magnet can temporarily suppress brain functions below the magnet. It is a promising non-invasive brain stimulation modality because of its competitive advantages such as safety, simplicity, and low-cost. However, current tSMS is insufficient to effectively stimulate deep brain areas due to attenuation of the magnetic field with the distance from the magnet. The aim of this study was to develop a brand-new tSMS system for non-invasive deep brain stimulation.
Methods
We designed and fabricated a triple tSMS system with three cylindrical NdFeB magnets placed close to each other. We compared the strength of magnetic field produced by the triple tSMS system with that by the current tSMS. Furthermore, to confirm its function, we stimulated the primary motor area in 17 healthy subjects with the triple tSMS for 20 min and assessed the cortical excitability using the motor evoked potential (MEP) obtained by transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Results
Our triple tSMS system produced the magnetic field sufficient for neuromodulation up to 80 mm depth from the magnet surface, which was 30 mm deeper than the current tSMS system. In the stimulation experiment, the triple tSMS significantly reduced the MEP amplitude, demonstrating a successful inhibition of the M1 excitability in healthy subjects.
Conclusion
Our triple tSMS system has an ability to produce an effective magnetic field in deep areas and to modulate the brain functions. It can be used for non-invasive deep brain stimulation.
Background
Synchronous finger tapping to external sensory stimuli is more stable for audiovisual combined stimuli than sole auditory or visual stimuli. In addition, piano players are superior in synchronous tapping and manipulating the ring and little fingers as compared to inexperienced individuals. However, it is currently unknown whether the ability to synchronize to external sensory stimuli with the ring finger is at the level of the index finger in piano players. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of piano experience on synchronization stability between the index and ring fingers using auditory, visual, and audiovisual combined stimuli.
Methods
Thirteen piano players and thirteen novices participated in this study. They were instructed to tap with their index or ring finger synchronously to auditory, visual, and audiovisual combined stimuli. The stimuli were presented from an electronic metronome at 1 Hz, and the tapping was performed 30 times in each condition. We analyzed standard deviation of intervals between the stimulus onset and the tap onset as synchronization stability.
Results
Synchronization stability for visual stimuli was lower during ring than index finger tapping in novices; however, this decline was absent in piano players. Also, piano players showed the higher synchronization stability for audiovisual combined stimuli than sole visual and auditory stimuli when tapping with the index finger. On the other hand, in novices, synchronization stability was higher for audiovisual combined stimuli than only visual stimuli.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that improvements of both sensorimotor processing and finger motor control by piano practice would contribute to superior synchronization stability.
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