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Lea-Carnall CA, Williams SR, Sanaei-Nezhad F, Trujillo-Barreto NJ, Montemurro MA, El-Deredy W, Parkes LM. GABA Modulates Frequency-Dependent Plasticity in Humans. iScience 2020; 23:101657. [PMID: 33163932 PMCID: PMC7599432 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Frequency-dependent reorganization of the primary somatosensory cortex, together with perceptual changes, arises following repetitive sensory stimulation. Here, we investigate the role of GABA in this process. We co-stimulated two finger tips and measured GABA and Glx using magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy at the beginning and end of the stimulation. Participants performed a perceptual learning task before and after stimulation. There were 2 sessions with stimulation frequency either at or above the resonance frequency of the primary somatosensory cortex (23 and 39 Hz, respectively). Perceptual learning occurred following above resonance stimulation only, while GABA reduced during this condition. Lower levels of early GABA were associated with greater perceptual learning. One possible mechanism underlying this finding is that cortical disinhibition “unmasks” lateral connections within the cortex to permit adaptation to the sensory environment. These results provide evidence in humans for a frequency-dependent inhibitory mechanism underlying learning and suggest a mechanism-based approach for optimizing neurostimulation frequency. In the context of repetitive sensory stimulation, GABA release is frequency dependent Stimulating above the resonance frequency of the somatosensory cortex reduces GABA Perceptual learning is associated with a reduction in GABA Early GABA reduction opens a window for plasticity and learning
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A. Lea-Carnall
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Corresponding author
| | - Stephen R. Williams
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Faezeh Sanaei-Nezhad
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Nelson J. Trujillo-Barreto
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Marcelo A. Montemurro
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Wael El-Deredy
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería en Salud, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Corresponding author
| | - Laura M. Parkes
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
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