Employing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in a Resource Limited Environment to Establish Brain-Behavior Relationships

Summary

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and low-frequency TMS (lfTMS) have been demonstrated to be major contributors to brain literature. Here we highlight the methods for investigating the cortical correlates of self-deception using TMS.

Abstract

Neuroimaging is typically perceived as a resource demanding discipline. While this is the case in certain circumstances, institutions with limited resources have historically contributed significantly to the field of neuroscience, including neuroimaging. In the study of self-deception, we have successfully employed single-pulse TMS to determine the brain correlates of abilities including overclaiming and self-enhancement. Even without the use of neuro-navigation, methods provided here lead to successful outcomes. For example, it was discovered that decreases in self-deceptive responding lead to a decrease in affect. These methods provide data that are reliable and valid, and such methods provide research opportunities otherwise unavailable. Through the use of these methods, the overall knowledge base in the field of neuroscience is expanded, providing research opportunities to students such as those at our institution (Montclair State University is a Hispanic-Serving Institute) who are often denied such research experiences.

Introduction

There are a number of challenges to investigating brain-behavior correlates at research institutions with limited resources (often referred to as 'teaching universities'). According to data provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF), almost all academic research is completed by a small percentage of higher education institutions in the United States. When examining over 4,400 post-secondary degree-granting institutions, the top 115 universities/institutes perform and publish 75% of all research¹. In the United States, there are 131 research 1 (R1: The highest status level a university can achieve in terms of research ranking) uni....

Protocol

The research presented here was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) committee of Montclair State University. All participants have been treated within the ethical guidelines of the APA.

1. Participants

1. First, obtain IRB Committee Review Approval for the protocol (see Discussion for non- Research 1 institutions). Consultation with experienced researchers is recommended. Obtain forms such as Screening (Supplementary File 1) and Side Effects (Supplementary File 2) forms from other researchers-they are readily shared across the TMS community. NOTE: For the purpose of th....

Results

Figure 2, from Taylor-Lilquist et al.¹⁴, involved four brain sites: MPFC, SMA, PZ, and a Sham site. These sites were utilized to determine the correlates of overclaiming. Overclaiming is a participant indicating that they know a word when it is actually not a word. 12 participants were tested in both social and non-social settings. The social settings represented pressure to either know a word (high-social pressure; n=6) or not know a word (low-social pressure; n=6). .......

Discussion

The protocol (and variations of) outlined here has been used in over 50 studies at Montclair State University. The entire set-up can be created for under $15,000 (US). Further, we have found our coordinates match well with underlying brain structures using fiducial procedures.

Variations of this method are often used. For example, control conditions can include stimulating different brain areas, applying TMS different timings (i.e, apply TMS at a timing that should have no effect), using .......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Android Samsung Tablet (for MEPs)	Samsung	SM-T500NZSAXAR
Cloth Measuring Tape	GDMINLO	B08TWNCDNS(AMZ)
Figure of 8 Copper TMS Coil	Magstim	4150-00	This is the current model
Lenovo T490 Laptop	Lenovo	20RY0002US
Magstim 200 Single Pulse	MagStim	Magstim200/2	This is the current model
Magstim Standard Coil Holder	MagStim	AFC/SS	This is the current model
Speedo Swim Caps	Speedo	751104-100
Testable.Org Account and Software	Testable	NA
Trigno 2 Lead Sensor (for MEPs)	DelSys	SP-W06-018B
Trigno Base and Plot Software (for MEPs)	DelSys	DS-203-D00