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Rostral anterior cingulate cortex is a structural correlate of repetitive TMS treatment response in depression
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Rostral anterior cingulate cortex is a structural correlate of repetitive TMS treatment response in depression

Aaron D Boes, Brandt D Uitermarkt, Fatimah M Albazron, Martin J Lan, Conor Liston, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Marc J Dubin and Michael D Fox
Brain stimulation, Vol.11(3), pp.575-581
05/2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.01.029
PMCID: PMC6136654
PMID: 29454551
url
https://doaj.org/article/17eaa37237844ef6ab43edf4907418d4View
Open Access

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective treatment for medication-refractory major depression, yet the mechanisms of action for this intervention are poorly understood. Here we investigate cerebral cortex thickness as a possible biomarker of rTMS treatment response. Longitudinal change in cortical thickness is evaluated relative to clinical outcomes across 48 participants in 2 cohorts undergoing left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex rTMS as a treatment for depression. Our results reveal changes in thickness in a region of the left rostral anterior cingulate cortex that correlate with clinical response, with this region becoming thicker in patients who respond favorably to rTMS and thinner in patients with a less favorable response. Moreover, the baseline cortical thickness in this region correlates with rTMS treatment response – those patients with thinner cortex before treatment tended to have the most clinical improvement. This study is the first analysis of longitudinal cortical thickness change with rTMS as a treatment for depression with similar results across two cohorts. These results support further investigation into the use of structural MRI as a possible biomarker of rTMS treatment response. •Does cortical thickness change in response to rTMS treatment of depression?•We show clinical improvement correlates with change in cerebral cortex thickness.•This is specific to the rostral anterior cingulate cortex. Moreover, pre-treatment cortical thickness in this region also correlates with eventual response.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Freesurfer Cortical thickness Neuromodulation

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