Name: tms: using the theta-burst protocol to explore mechanism of plasticity in individuals with fragile x syndrome and autism
Uploaded: 2010-12-28T17:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about TMS: Using the Theta-Burst Protocol to Explore Mechanism of Plasticity in Individuals with Fragile X Syndrome and Autism at JoVE.com

1. Determine Resting Motor Threshold:
<ol class="lalpha">
 <li>To begin, seat your subject in a comfortable chair.</li>
 <li>Next, apply EMG surface electrodes over the first dorsal inerosseus muscle of the subject's right hand. (INSERT FIGURE1) If you are having trouble locating this muscle, ask the subject to make a pinching motion or to move his/her index finger back and forth - this should make the muscle easier to locate.</li>
 <li>Place a ground electrode on the meaty portion of the subject's fo...

<ol>
	<li>Pfeiffer, B. E., Huber, K. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+state+of+synapses+in+fragile+x+syndrome.">The state of synapses in fragile x syndrome.</a> Neuroscientist. 15, 549-567 (2009).</li><li>O'Donnel, W. T., Warren, S. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+decade+of+molecular+studies+of+fragile+x+syndrome.">A decade of molecular studies of fragile x syndrome.</a> Annual Review of Neuroscience. 25, 315-338 (2002).</li><li>Tassone, F., Hagerman, R. J., Taylor, A. K., Mills, J. B., Wood, S., Gane, L. W., Hagerman, P. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> American Journal of Human Genetics. 65, A493-A493 (1999).</li><li>Hagerman, R. J., Miller, L. J., McGrath-Clarke, J., Riley, K., Goldson, E., Harris, S. W., Simon, J., Church, K., Bonnell, J., Ognibene, T. C., McIntosh, D. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Influence+of+stimulants+on+electrodermal+studies+in+fragile+x+syndrome.">Influence of stimulants on electrodermal studies in fragile x syndrome.</a> Microscopy Research and Technique. 57, 168-173 (2002).</li><li>Miller, L. J., McIntosh, D. N., McGrath, J., Shyu, V., Lampe, M., Taylor, A. K., Tassone, F., Neitzel, K., Stackhouse, T., Hagerman, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrodermal+response+to+sensory+stimuli+in+individuals+with+fragile+x+syndrome:+a+preliminary+report.">Electrodermal response to sensory stimuli in individuals with fragile x syndrome: a preliminary report.</a> American Journal of Medical Genetics. 83, 268-279 (1999).</li><li>Hagerman, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fragile+X:+perspectives+from+birth+through+aging.">Fragile X: perspectives from birth through aging.</a> Biological Psychiatry. 57, 73s-73s (2005).</li><li>Pascual-Leone, A., Davey, M., Wassermann, E. M., Rothwell, J., Puri, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Handbook of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. , (2002).</li><li>Walsh, V., Pascual-Leone, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Neurochronometrics of Mind. , (2005).</li><li>Thickbroom, G. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transcranial+magnetic+stimulation+and+synaptic+plasticity:+experimental+framework+and+human+models.">Transcranial magnetic stimulation and synaptic plasticity: experimental framework and human models.</a> Experimental Brain Research. 180, 583-593 (2007).</li><li>Huang, Y. Z., Edwards, M. J., Rounis, E., Bhatia, K. P., Rothwell, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Theta+burst+stimulation+of+the+human+motor+cortex.">Theta burst stimulation of the human motor cortex.</a> Neuron. 45, 201-206 (2005).</li><li>Oberman, L., Eldaief, M. C., Gautam, S., Fecteau, S., Tormos, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Abnormal+Cortical+Plasticity+in+Adults+with+Asperger's+Syndrome.">Abnormal Cortical Plasticity in Adults with Asperger's Syndrome.</a> , .</li></ol>

Knowing that prolonged duration of TMS after-effects is reflective of atypical neural plasticity, studies such as this could serve to create better and more precise diagnostic protocols for Autism and related disorders.
Similarly, with more data, we may be able to find temporal biological markers for other neurological pathologies - including Fragile X syndrome. In this case, although there is not yet a therapeutic remediation option, early detection could help parents and educators determin...

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">	
		
		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Alcohol Swabs</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>EMG Electrodes</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>EMG Measuring Equipment/Software</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Ear Plugs</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Marker or Grease Pen</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Any Single Pulse Capable TMS Device</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Any rTMS Capable TMS Device (for TBS)</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Any Compatible Figure-of-Eight Coil</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Frameless Stereotactic Equipment (Optional)</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

tms: using the theta-burst protocol to explore mechanism of plasticity in individuals with fragile x syndrome and autism

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), also known as Martin-Bell Syndrome, is a genetic abnormality found on the X chromosome.1,2 Individuals suffering from FXS display abnormalities in the expression of FMR1 - a protein required for typical, healthy neural development.3 Recent data has suggested that the loss of this protein can cause the cortex to be hyperexcitable thereby affecting overall patterns of neural plasticity.4,5
In addition, Fragile X shows a strong comorbidity with autism: in fact, 30% of children with FXS are diagnosed with autism, and 2 - 5% of autistic children suffer from FXS.6
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (a non-invasive neurostimulatory and neuromodulatory technique that can transiently or lastingly modulate cortical excitability via the application of localized magnetic field pulses 7,8) represents a unique method of exploring plasticity and the manifestations of FXS within affected individuals. More specifically, Theta-Burst Stimulation (TBS), a specific stimulatory protocol shown to modulate cortical plasticity for a duration up to 30 minutes after stimulation cessation in healthy populations, has already proven an efficacious tool in the exploration of abnormal plasticity.9,10 
Recent studies have shown the effects of TBS last considerably longer in individuals on the autistic spectrum - up to 90 minutes.11 This extended effect-duration suggests an underlying abnormality in the brain's natural plasticity state in autistic individuals - similar to the hyperexcitability induced by Fragile X Syndrome.
In this experiment, utilizing single-pulse motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) as our benchmark, we will explore the effects of both intermittent and continuous TBS on cortical plasticity in individuals suffering from FXS and individuals on the Autistic Spectrum.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about TMS: Using the Theta-Burst Protocol to Explore Mechanism of Plasticity in Individuals with Fragile X Syndrome and Autism at JoVE.com

TMS: Using the Theta-Burst Protocol to Explore Mechanism of Plasticity in Individuals with Fragile X Syndrome and Autism

In this article, we examine the effects of Theta-Burst TMS stimulation on cortical plasticity in individuals suffering from Fragile X syndrome and individuals on the autistic spectrum.

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), also known as Martin-Bell Syndrome, is a genetic abnormality found on the X chromosome.1,2 Individuals suffering from FXS ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

The NeuroStar TMS Device: Conducting the FDA Approved Protocol for Treatment of Depression

The Neuronetics NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) System is a class II medical device that produces brief duration, pulsed magnetic ...

Morphological Analysis of Drosophila Larval Peripheral Sensory Neuron Dendrites and Axons Using Genetic Mosaics

Morphological Analysis of Drosophila Larval Peripheral Sensory Neuron Dendrites and Axons Using Genetic Mosaics

Nervous system development requires the correct specification of neuron position and identity, followed by accurate neuron class-specific dendritic ...

Immunohistological Labeling of Microtubules in Sensory Neuron Dendrites, Tracheae, and Muscles in the Drosophila Larva Body Wall

Immunohistological Labeling of Microtubules in Sensory Neuron Dendrites, Tracheae, and Muscles in the Drosophila Larva Body Wall

To understand how differences in complex cell shapes are achieved, it is important to accurately follow microtubule organization. The Drosophila larval ...

Lateral Diffusion and Exocytosis of Membrane Proteins in Cultured Neurons Assessed using Fluorescence Recovery and Fluorescence-loss Photobleaching

Membrane proteins such as receptors and ion channels undergo active trafficking in neurons, which are highly polarised and morphologically complex. This ...

A Proboscis Extension Response Protocol for Investigating Behavioral Plasticity in Insects: Application to Basic, Biomedical, and Agricultural Research

Insects modify their responses to stimuli through experience of associating those stimuli with events important for survival (e.g., food, mates, threats). ...

Inducing Plasticity of Astrocytic Receptors by Manipulation of Neuronal Firing Rates

Close to two decades of research has established that astrocytes in situ and in vivo express numerous G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that can be ...

Developing HiPSC Derived Serum Free Embryoid Bodies for the Interrogation of 3-D Stem Cell Cultures Using Physiologically Relevant Assays

Although a number of in vitro disease models have been developed using hiPSCs, one limitation is that these two-dimensional (2-D) systems may not ...

Screening of Axonal Degeneration in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Ultrasonography and Nerve Conduction Studies

Axonal degeneration, indicative of surgical decompression, may coexist in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as the disease progresses. However, the current ...

Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

We describe a rapid tissue donation program for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) that requires scientists and technicians to be on-call 24/7, 365 ...

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

Computational modeling of diffusion and reaction of chemical species in a three-dimensional (3D) geometry is a fundamental method to understand the ...