Fig 3. rTMS induces structural remodeling of stimulated networks.

(A) Homeostatic structural plasticity assumes negative feedback of neuronal activity on its connectivity with other neurons: A high firing rate removes synapses between excitatory neurons, and a low firing rate promotes synapse formation. (B) Poisson input stabilizes the firing rate and connection probability prior to stimulation. (C) Effects of a 10 Hz stimulation protocol consisting of 900 pulses on the firing rate and structural remodeling [i.e., connectivity between stimulated neurons (S–S), between non-stimulated excitatory neurons (E–E), and between stimulated and non-stimulated neurons (S–E and E–S)]. (D) Effects of the same stimulation protocol on the firing rate of stimulated neurons and connectivity between stimulated neurons at the four representative amplitudes from Fig 2C [i.e., weak (a), strong-equivalent (b), peak (c), and strong (d)].