Spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) has been suggested as one of the key mechanism underlying learning and memory. Due to its importance, timing-dependent plasticity studies have been approached in the living human brain by means of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) protocols such as paired associative stimulation (PAS). However, contrary to STDP studies at a cellular level, functional plasticity induction in the human brain implies the interaction among target cortical networks and investigates plasticity mechanisms at a systems level.
This thesis comprises of two independent studies that aim at understanding the importance of considering broad cortical networks when predicting the outcome of timing-dependent associative plasticity induction in the human brain. In the first study we developed a new protocol (ipsilateral PAS (ipsiPAS)) that required timing- and regional-specific information transfer across hemispheres for the induction of timing-dependent plasticity within M1 (see chapter 3). In the second study, we tested the influence of individual brain structure, as measured with voxel-based cortical thickness, on a standard PAS protocol (see chapter 4). In summary, we observed that the near-synchronous associativity taking place within M1 is not the only determinant influencing the outcome of PAS protocols. Rather, the online interaction of the cortical networks integrating information during a PAS intervention determines the outcome of the pairing of inputs in M1.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:12230 |
| Date | 07 November 2013 |
| Creators | Conde Ruiz, Virginia |
| Contributors | Villringer, Arno, Ragert, Patrick, Claßen, Joseph, Nitsche, Michael |
| Publisher | Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | doc-type:doctoralThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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